Lieberman to press Russia to curb Iran nuclear program

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will head to Moscow on Monday to air his nation's concerns over Iran's nuclear program in talks with Russian leaders.

The trip is the tough-talking Yisrael Beiteinu chairman's first to Russia since taking office on March 31.

Lieberman will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

Israel wants Russia to use its economic leverage and close ties with Iran to press it to stop its nuclear work.

The ministry said that Lieberman would also discuss Middle East peace efforts. Last week, Lieberman expressed disappointment over Lavrov's recent meeting in Syria with the leader of the violent Islamic Hamas group.

Lieberman shelved an initial statement condemning the meeting which the Foreign Ministry had drafted, in deference to the Russians, but then relented and released a weaker response expressing "deep disappointment" that the meeting took place.

The Russian foreign minister arrived in the Syrian capital on Saturday to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers sponsored by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The meeting with Meshal came following a cooling of relations between Hamas and Russia, including Russian support of Israel's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

The Israeli foreign ministry was miffed over the Lavrov-Meshal meeting, especially when it was followed by a statement by Lavrov indicating that Russia would continue its contacts with Hamas despite international criticism.