Russia Wants IAEA To Manage Iran Dispute

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (file photo) (NATO)

November 17, 2006 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), should lead efforts to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear program, rather than UN Security Council.

Lavrov, who was speaking at the start of a visit to New Delhi, also reiterated Moscow's preference for negotiations rather than sanctions against Iran.

Lavrov said "it was agreed from the beginning that we would seek through the Security Council the swift resumption of negotiations with Iran, and not the punishment of Iran."

Russia and China are resisting a draft UN Security Council resolution that opens up the possibility of targeted sanctions against Iran.

(RIA Novosti, AP, AFP)