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Last update - 18:23 11/09/2009
Putin: Russia opposes force, sanctions on Iran
By The Associated Press
Tags: nuclear, United Nations 

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday warned against using force or new sanctions against Iran for its defiance over its nuclear program, saying Moscow has no evidence that Tehran is seeking nuclear arms.

Iran has refused to provide the international community with details of its nuclear activities, which the United States and other nations say are aimed at developing weapons.

Putin said, however, that Moscow has no grounds to doubt Iran's claim that its nuclear program is purely peaceful, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
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Putin said, according to Peskov, that any use of force, delivering any kind of strike, won't help, won't solve the problem. On the contrary, it will hurt the entire region. As for sanctions, they won't bring the desired effect.

Putin was speaking at a meeting of foreign experts on Russia.

According to other meeting participants, Putin also said Russia does not want to see a nuclear-armed Iran, and that Iran needs to answer international concerns about its activities.

Russia, which is building a nuclear power plant in Iran, has made similar comments in the past, and has repeatedly warned against any attack on Iran.

But Putin's remarks Friday could disappoint U.S. and Israeli officials, who have urged the Kremlin to put more pressure on Iran.

Participants in the meeting said Putin dodged a question about media reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited Moscow this week, including speculation that Netanyahu wanted to warn Russia of an impending strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Kremlin spokesman Alexei Pavlov said he had no information that Netanyahu was in Moscow, but Russian officials have stopped short of outright denying the visit took place.

The United States and European allies have given Iran until the end of September to take up an offer of nuclear talks with six world powers - including Russia - and trade incentives should it suspend uranium enrichment activities. It has already defied three sets of UN Security Council sanctions since 2006 for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.

Russia, which holds veto power on the UN Security Council, backed those sanctions but used its clout to water down tougher U.S. proposals. Russian officials have said too much pressure would be counterproductive.

This week, Iran offered a counterproposal for new wide-ranging negotiations, but provided no details of its nuclear program, according to a copy published by an investigative group.

U.S. officials have said the Iranian proposal falls short of satisfying international demands, but Russian media have suggested Moscow was less critical. According to Ekho Moskvy radio, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Iran's proposal included worthwhile elements and could be worked with.
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  1.   Israelis should remember Georgia and the Arctic Sea... 20:30  |  BBSNews 11/09/09
  2.   Russia is following the same policy as in 1939 20:58  |  Realist 11/09/09
  3.   #2 21:45  |  Harold 11/09/09
  4.   Response to "Realist" 2 22:00  |  Magnus K 11/09/09
  5.   Putin 22:13  |  Brod 11/09/09
  6.   No wonder Bibi`s guys lied 22:52  |  Mark Lincoln 11/09/09
  7.   #2, Realist 23:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/09/09
  8.   Correction:Russia Supports Force 00:42  |  Gary 12/09/09
  9.   The only solution 01:35  |  George 12/09/09
  10.   #3 Brod 01:54  |  Jim 12/09/09
  11.   putin misses the old days 02:47  |  Mark 12/09/09
  12.   a WAR is on the horizon 03:40  |  VIPER 12/09/09
  13.   Gosh! What`s it like when a Big Daddy has a veto? 03:49  |  Johnboy 12/09/09
  14.   Putin Proud Of Making Guiness Book Of Records 05:43  |  Lavi 12/09/09
  15.   #8 VIPER 06:36  |  Jim 12/09/09
  16.   Note: A factual error in the article 06:44  |  Solow 12/09/09
  17.   #5 George 07:16  |  Jim 12/09/09
  18.   RUSSIA should NOT provide terrorist nations 08:14  |  with means to 12/09/09
  19.   Russia, Georgia, Bibi and S-300 missiles! 09:51  |  Manny Goldstein 12/09/09
  20.   1973 october war 11:18  |  Arie Heide 12/09/09
  21.   #13, JIM, thats your version 11:45  |  VIPER 12/09/09
  22.   Russia the old trouble maker 11:55  |  Petra 12/09/09
  23.   Where is Leiberman when we need him? 13:45  |  Lou 12/09/09
  24.   Jim #8 17:03  |  Brod 12/09/09
  25.   #3 Hey Brod, well, er, Americans 19:27  |  ballistic 12/09/09
  26.   #5 Oh Cipora, are you still whining? 19:31  |  ballistic 12/09/09
  27.   blah, to be precise 20:48  |  Ryan 12/09/09
  28.   Very Good No7# then wait for the Retaliation. 01:38  |  Ernie 13/09/09
  29.   IRAN? sure they are expected an Attack.... 01:48  |  Kader LLani 13/09/09
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