Russia blasts new IAEA report on Iran

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209132.html

Russia has strongly criticized the release of the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran, describing it as a "source of a new increase in tension" over Tehran's nuclear program.

Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday the release of information from the IAEA report was driven by "destructive logic" aimed at the "intentional demolition of the political-diplomatic process."

"Russia is gravely disappointed and bewildered that the report is being turned into a source adding to the tensions over the problems connected to the Iranian nuclear program," reads the statement, Reuters reported.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano's latest report on Iran's nuclear activities was distributed to the 35 members of the Board of Governors of the agency on Tuesday evening, ahead of the seasonal meeting of the board, which is scheduled to be held in Vienna from November 17 to 18.

Iran dismissed the report as "unbalanced, unprofessional and prepared with political motivation and under political pressure by mostly the United States."

Russia also said that the agency's move would damage the chance of a renewal of talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany -- to solve the crisis over Iran's nuclear program through diplomatic channels.

"We have serious doubts about the justification for steps to reveal contents of the report to a broad public, primarily because it is precisely now that certain chances for the renewal of dialogue between the 'sextet' (P5+1) of international mediators and Tehran have begun to appear," the ministry said.

Russia also said that it needs time to study the detailed of the anti-Iran report.

"The analysis must take place in a calm atmosphere, since it is important to determine whether some new, reliable evidence strengthening suspicions of a military element in Iran's nuclear program has really appeared, or whether we are talking about an intentional -- and counterproductive -- whipping up of emotions," the ministry said.

Moscow also called on international community to "keep public steps in line with the interests of progress toward a political and diplomatic resolution."

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program.

Yet, as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, Iran has every right to develop and acquire nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.