Mottaki to visit Moscow to discuss Iranian nuke issue

Moscow, Nov 7 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will pay a two-day visit here beginning November 9 to discuss the nuclear issue with Russian officials.

Mr Mottaki will be arriving here for negotiations on Tehran's nuclear stand-off with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin told Interfax news agency today.

The EU troika has proposed a UN Security Council draft resolution on sanctions against Iran, which the United States wants to make more ''tougher''.

Russia and China have already opposed the draft resolution which includes banning sales of missile and nuclear technologies to Iran, freezing its military bank accounts, and imposing visa restrictions on officials linked to the nuclear industry.

During his visit, Mr Mottaki will discuss the issue in detail with the Russian leaders.

Last week, Mr Lavrov said Russia will agree to the draft resolution on Iran on condition that the envisaged measures would be in force for a limited period and a mechanism to stop the measures must be stipulated in the document.

Tehran which announced two weeks ago it launched a second cascade of gas centrifuges to enrich uranium, may face sanctions for failing to comply with the UN Security Council's demand that it suspend enrichment.

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