Putin tells Iran Russia wants more nuclear talks

MOSCOW, Oct 30 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a telephone conversation today that Moscow favoured further talks on Iran's nuclear programme, the Kremlin said.

''In the course of a discussion of the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, Vladimir Putin laid out Russia's principled position favouring the continuation of the negotiating process,'' the Kremlin said in a statement.

Russia, holder of a veto in the United Nations Security Council, says it is not convinced there is a case for tougher sanctions against Iran.

The United States is leading a campaign for UN sanctions because it believes Tehran's nuclear programme is a cover for bomb-making.

Iran says it is pursuing nuclear technology purely to generate electricity.

Western powers have proposed talks with Tehran, but that offer has foundered because it hinges on Iran suspending its uranium enrichment programme before negotiations start, something Tehran has refused to do.

Russia, which is building an atomic reactor in Iran, last week criticised a draft U.N. resolution put forward by Western European countries which allows for some form of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

REUTERS SRS BD0139