Russia hopes consensus on Iranian nuclear issue to emerge soon

Moscow, Dec 16 (UNI) Russia today expressed the hope that a consensus will soon emerge in the UN Security Council on the contentious Iranian nuclear issue.

''I hope it is quite realistic to find a consensus within the days left before the New Year's if our partners take a realistic approach and not insist on certain positions that, in our view, have nothing in common with the goal facing all of us, to persuade Iran to enter into negotiations rather than try to punish it,'' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian Vesti-24 channel.

The UN Security Council agreed on Thursday on the main points of a draft resolution on Iran's nuclear programme.

Following Tehran's refusal to halt its uranium enrichment or allow random inspections of its programme in exchange for a package of incentives, the Security Council began discussing sanctions against Iran proposed by European troika, including Britain, France and Germany.

Moscow has consistently opposed sanctions, but, at the same time, has refused to rule out sanctions completely.

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