Russia for political solution to Iran nuke issue : Lavrov

Moscow, Jan 17 (UNI) Opposing unilateral action, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said Moscow will insist on a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear problem.

''We will firmly insist on a political and diplomatic settlement.

There is no reasonable alternative to it,'' Mr Lavrov told reporters after his talks with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni.

''It is necessary to mount collective efforts, abstain from unilateral steps and focus on Iran's fulfillment of the demands formulated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and supported by the UN Security Council,'' he said.

Mr Lavrov reiterated that Russia's stance on the Iranian nuclear programme was firm enough.

''We meet the wish of our Israeli partners and our stand is firm,'' he said, adding, ''It is of paramount importance to enlarge possibilities of IAEA work rather than narrow them.'' Speaking at the Russian Foreign Ministry Diplomatic Academy, Ms Livni said Israel fears that Bushehr nuclear fuel could be used for military purposes.

She also said the Iranian nuclear programme was not the only danger coming from Iran.

Tehran was dangerous for a combination of an ideology bordering on insanity, the development of nuclear weapons, the breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the possible transfer of nuclear weapons to other countries, she said.

''Moderate countries understand that a nuclear Iran is a threat,'' Ms Livni noted.

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