Thursday, February 2 2006 11:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: Russia has urged Iran to re-impose its moratorium on nuclear research and to cooperate with the UN's nuclear watchdog in order to shore up international confidence in Tehran and stave off the threat of UN sanctions.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needed to conclude its examination of Iran's previous nuclear activities to convince the international community that Tehran did only want nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Kislyak said after talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in Tehran yesterday (Feb 1 2006).

Earlier, Kislyak said Russia's offer to supply Iran with uranium enriched on Russian territory and to allow Tehran to continue with its nuclear power plans would be valid only if Iran re-imposed the moratorium, which it abandoned last month.

Iran's cooperation with the IAEA would "Provide for Iran's energy needs and give the international community confidence that the country abides by principles of non-proliferation," Kislyak was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Kislyak referred to a resolution of the IAEA's Board of Governors, which said that if Iran continued to observe the agency's moratorium on uranium enrichment, international inspectors would continue to work in the country.

In further comments on the consultations, which also involved China, Kislyak said the approaches of Moscow and Beijing to Iran's nuclear problem were very similar.

The IAEA's Board of Governors is to meet today to discuss referring Iran to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions against the energy-rich country if it is found to be in breach of its international commitments.