Russia calls on Iran to fully cooperate with IAEA

Moscow, Mar 10: Russia has called on Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in view of outcome of the IAEA Board of Governors' meet in Vienna this week.

"We urge Iran to seriously consider the outcome of the Board of Governors' meeting and ensure full cooperation with the IAEA," Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to the IAEA's decision to refer Iran's dossier to the UN Security Council.

"The framework of such cooperation is defined by resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors, its Charter and requirements of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty that guarantee the right to access to the benefits of nuclear power engineering on the condition of full observance of non-proliferation commitments, the statement stressed.

If it is fulfilled, we are confident that solutions can be found to guarantee Tehran its lawful right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy," the Ministry said.

"As a member-nation of the IAEA and of its Board of Governors, Russia is ready to assist in steering the situation to the right track," it underscored.

Majority of delegates expressed serious concern in connection with the fact that despite some positive elements in the Agency's investigation of the Iranian nuclear activity in the past, IAEA so far, could not establish that there was no undeclared nuclear activities in Iran, the statement said.

It is important that Board of Governors confirms the necessity to continue the work for the search of a solution to the Iranian problems in the framework of IAEA, it said adding that it is the only competent organisation, capable of implementing controlling functions in accordance with the commitments of the states in relation to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The report of the IAEA director general Mohamed El-Baradei will be sent to UN Security Council in line with the February resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors, statement added.

UNI