Russia called on Iran yesterday not to react negatively to the UN Security Council resolution on its nuclear program.

 

"We hope our Iranian colleagues will carefully study the text of the resolution and weigh all the pros and cons as regards cooperation with the UN Security Council and the IAEA," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

 

The resolution "creates all conditions for a negotiated solution," Kislyak said. "It's a signal to our Iranian friends to take measures to restore trust in their nuclear program."

 

The resolution, adopted unanimously on Saturday, demanded Iran suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and work on all heavy water-related projects.

 

It also called on all states to impose a ban on trade with Iran in goods related to its nuclear programs and ballistic missile delivery systems.

 

The US accuses Tehran of developing a nuclear-weapons program under the garb of a civilian-use program. Iran, however, says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2006)