Russia to back UN sanctions on Iran

A SENIOR Russian lawmaker last night said Moscow would likely back a draft UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme — a statement that contrasted with the Russian foreign minister’s criticism of the draft.

Russia and China, both veto-wielding Security Council members with strong commercial ties to Tehran, have consistently been reluctant to support sanctions. But China issued muted criticism of Iran yesterday over its standoff with the Security Council.

Asked about comments from the Iranian president that Tehran would oppose any sanctions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said “the relevant parties should not take any measures that may escalate the situation”.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Moscow was opposed to the draft resolution, but yesterday Yuri Volkov, a deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, said Russia “will apparently have to join a new resolution on Iran proposed by Britain, Germany and France that envisages limited economic sanctions”.

UN Security Council members are deliberating the draft European resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme. Russia has indicated that the measure is too tough, while the US says it is not tough enough.

But Volkov said yesterday that “the Iranian leadership’s refusal to freeze uranium enrichment activities and engage in a constructive dialogue with leading global powers leaves no chance for a quick diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear problem”.