·Iran's Foreign Ministry Tuesday said Russia's vote for IAEA resolution  against Iran raises question.

·The ministry said Iran had regular dialogues with Russia and it should be clear with its positions.

·Iran's representative dismissed the resolution as a "disappointing" and "politically" motivated move.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani gives a speech at the Iranian Parliament during a ceremony to mark Parliament Day in Tehran Dec. 1, 2009.(Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz) Photo Gallery>>>

    TEHRAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Tuesday said Russia's vote for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution against Iran last Friday raises question and it should respond why it gave the vote, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters that Russia's positive vote to the recent "unjust resolution" of IAEA board of governors concerning Iran's "peaceful nuclear program" raises question.

    "We have had regular dialogues and consultations with the Russians on Iran's peaceful nuclear program and this country (Russia) is totally familiar with the legal and peaceful nature of these activities," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

    "This country (Russia) should respond to what the cause of this act was and it should be transparent and clear with its positions," he said.

    The IAEA board of governors passed a resolution during a meeting on Friday in Vienna, calling for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program and requiring Iran to stop construction on the newly-disclosed Fordo uranium enrichment facility near the central Iranian city of Qom.

    The move was the IAEA's first adoption of a resolution against Iran after the one adopted in February 2006. The IAEA board of governors (with Russia involved) passed the resolution with 25 voting for, six abstentions, one absence while Cuba, Venezuela andMalaysia voting against.

    Following the adoption of the resolution, Iran's permanent representative to the IAEA Ali Soltanieh said Friday that Iran would not implement the resolution and dismissed it as a "disappointing" and "politically" motivated move.

    On Sunday, the Iranian government in a decree ordered the country's Atomic Energy Organization to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites in defiance of the latest IAEA resolution.  

Russia ready for sanctions on Iran if consensus reached


   MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia will back sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program if consensus is reached internationally, said a Russian unnamed diplomat source on Tuesday.

   "If there is a consensus on sanctions, Russia will not remain in isolation," said the source when commenting on Tehran's plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities.Full story

Iran protests to 25 members of IAEA board of governors for voting for resolution

    TEHRAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran has officially protested to 25 members of the 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors who voted for a recent resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday.

    "Iran has sent separate letters to all 35 members of the board, objecting the performance of the 25 members who voted for the anti-Iran resolution," the official IRNA news agency quoted Mehmanparast as saying.Full story

Iran's FM criticizes IAEA, voters against Iran


TEHRAN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday criticized the recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution against Iran as well as those countries who cast "unjust and discriminatory" votes against the country, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The recent resolution issued by the IAEA against Iran has weakened the international body," Mottaki was quoted as saying.Full story