'Russia not to back UN resolution to isolate Iran'

Moscow, Nov 2: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow will not support a draft UN Security Council resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue ''aimed at isolating Iran from the outside world''.

''We cannot support measures that are in effect aimed at isolating Iran from the outside world, including isolating people who have the task of holding negotiations on the nuclear programme,'' Mr Lavrov told Interfax news agency.

He was replying to a question whether Russia fully rejected a draft Security Council resolution prepared by Britain, France and Germany or planned to propose amendments to it.

Mr Lavrov said the draft resolution on Iran proposed by the European troika did not comply with agreements reached earlier.

''The EU-3 draft resolution extends far beyond the framework of agreements,'' he said, adding it was agreed within the framework of the P-5 plus Germany international mediators that any measures taken by the UN Security Council should be thoroughly checked.

Meanwhile, newly-elected UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told journalists yesterday that Iran should stop uranium enrichment activity and accept a package of proposals by the six-nation international mediators.

UNI