Russia raises nuclear fears over Iran missile launch

A senior Russian diplomat today voiced concern about Iran’s launch of a rocket, saying it raised suspicions about its nuclear programme.

Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov as saying that Monday’s launch of an Iranian research rocket has raised concerns about the direction of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The statement appeared to indicate that Moscow increasingly shares Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear plans.

“It adds to general suspicions of Iran regarding its potential desire to build nuclear weapons,” Mr Losyukov said. “Long-range missiles are one of the components of such weapons. That causes concern.”

Iran said that the rocket test-fired on Monday will be used to launch research satellites into space, but the US State Department said the launch was a “troubling” show of a technology that could be used to fire long-range ballistic missiles.

Russia in the past has been sceptical about Iran’s missile capability.

The US and its allies suspect Tehran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its uranium enrichment programme is intended solely for civilian energy needs.