Russia to back UN resolution on Iran on certain conditions: Lavrov

Moscow, Nov 4 (UNI) Russia may back UN resolution on Iranian nuclear programme, only if it adhered to certain criterias, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here today.

''Russia will support a resolution on Iran on conditions that the measures have a 'clear time-frame' and the presence of a 'mechanism' for lifting these measures,'' Mr Lavrov told mediapersons.

''We want the emphasis placed on tangible problems identified by the IAEA,'' he added.

Stressing that ''nobody wants Iran to acquire modern missile technology,'' he said the matter concerned problems in the area of uranium enrichment technology, the chemical processing of irradiated nuclear fuel and heavy-water reactors.

''If we concentrate on developing measures that prevent technology in these areas from coming to Iran, we can quickly agree upon the text of the resolution,'' he said.

Mr Lavrov said Russia was still ready to work out gradual measures to resolve the issue in a way that fits the reality of the situation on the ground.

The EU-3 (Britain, France and Germany) proposed last week a set of sanctions against Tehran, including banning sale of missile and nuclear technologies, freezing its military bank accounts, and imposing visa restrictions for officials linked to the nuclear industry.

Consistently opposing sanctions, Russia and China have not yet given their formal response to the document, but have insisted on the need for a diplomatic solution.

UNI XC KD HS1851