Wednesday, April 12 2006 15:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: Concerned over Iran's assertion that it has successfully enriched uranium for the first time, Russia today (Apr 12, 2006) called it a 'step in the wrong direction' and urged Tehran to heed international community's call to suspend enrichment activities.

"Moscow with concern received the statement of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about creation of nuclear fuel cycle. Definitely, this is a step in the wrong direction. It runs counter to the IAEA Board of Governors resolutions and a statement by the UN Security Council president," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin told reporters.

He expressed Moscow's backing for IAEA chief Muhhamad ElBaradei's Theran mission beginning today.

"We hope that Iran will rightly understand the concerns of the world community and would take steps for the practical implementation of IAEA documents, which include suspension of all uranium enrichment activities including scientific research", Kamynin said.