Iran welcomes Russian stance on atomic sanctions

TEHRAN, Dec 3 (Reuters) Iran today welcomed Russian opposition to tough sanctions backed by Washington and European capitals over Tehran's nuclear programme -- a subject expected to be discussed by big power diplomats this week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini also reaffirmed Iran's refusal to halt nuclear work the West believes is being used to make atomic bombs. Tehran says it is solely for electricity generation.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France -- plus Germany are trying to narrow differences over how to deal with Iran's failure to heed UN demands to halt uranium enrichment.

Russia has repeatedly clashed with its Western partners over a draft sanctions resolution. Moscow wants to avoid any strong sanctions, which it believes would push Tehran into a corner and make matters worse.

''Unfortunately, some of the member countries of the Security Council still insist on continuing the process (of discussing sanctions),'' Hosseini told a news conference.

''We will continue our nuclear activities in the framework of international law and the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) regulations.'' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday foreign ministry political directors of the six powers would discuss Iran on Tuesday. A French official said, however, the meeting was not finalised.

''We express our satisfaction for their (Russian) efforts,'' Hosseini said.

''What the Russians have said is they agree with sanctions concerning the transfer of material that relates to nuclear weapons.

But that does not include us, because we do not have nuclear weapons and we have no such plans,'' he said.

Washington and European states want the 15-member Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes after it refused to halt enrichment work, a process that can make fuel for power stations or bomb material.

But Russia, backed by China, has chopped off close to half of the original European text.

A new European proposal, drawn up by France, would ban exports to Iran only of the most dangerous items that could be used to make a nuclear weapon or ballistic missile, according to diplomats familiar with the text.

REUTERS SP PM1848