Iran vows to allay IAEA's remaining concerns : Russia

Moscow, Dec 4 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Iran reaffirmed its committment to cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its nuclear programme and the observance of the Non-Prolifteration Treaty (NPT).

Mr Lavrov said yesterday, ''the secretary to the Iranian Supreme National Security Council and top nuclear negotiator Mr Saeed Jalili had assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that Tehran was ready to answer the IAEAs remaining queries about the Iranian nuclear programme.'' Mr Jalili at a meeting with President Putin, described the modalities of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA, the queries it already had replied and the issues that still remains to be put before the IAEA officials for discussions to clear doughts.

Mr Lavrov told reporters after the talks between President Putin and Mr Jalili at presidential country house at Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow.

''We have appreciated Tehran's correct approach and its commitment to cooperation with the IAEA and the NPT and observance of all understandings implied by participation in the Treaty, which it reaffirmed once again,'' Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Foreign Minister as saying.

''President Putin had reiterated his call for Iran's leadership to ensure honest and full cooperation with the IAEA in order to clarify all of the issues interesting the agency,'' he added.

The President welcomed Tehran's cooperation with the IAEA, saying Russia expected Iran's nuclear programme to be transparent and fully monitored by the IAEA.

''It is pleasant to note that contacts between Russia and Iran have intensified at all levels, the Russian President said.

Meanwhile, President Putin held telephonic talks with the US President George W Bush during which they discussed ''issues relating to the Iranian nuclear programme, Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko said.

''A telephonic conversation between the Presidents of the two countries took place at the initiative of the American side, he said.

Issues relating to the Iranian nuclear programme were discussed during the course of the conversation,'' he told Interfax.

UNI