Russia "regrets" Iran defying nuclear deadline-RIA

MOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) Russia regrets Iran's failure to heed a United Nations resolution and stop enriching uranium, RIA news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry's chief spokesman as saying today.

''We express our regret that Iran did not abide by (UN Security Council) resolution 1696 and has not ended work on enriching uranium by the deadline set out in that document,'' the agency quoted spokesman Mikhail Kamynin as saying.

Kamynin said major powers would be having consultations in the next few days to decide on further action. He did not mention if that would include sanctions.

Tehran missed yesterday's deadline to stop enrichment work -- a programme it says is to generate electricity but which the West suspects could be a cover for building a bomb.

It now faces the threat of UN sanctions, though China and Russia could use their veto power in the Security Council to block sanctions.

REUTERS MQA BST1200