Backgrounder: Inside U.S.-initiated sanctions on Iran for its nuclear activities
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| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses a press conference about his country's nuclear issue in New York, the United States, May 4, 2010. (Xinhua File Photo/Shen Hong) |
TEHRAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday criticized Russia for backing the United States in pushing for a new round of sanctions against Tehran, the local satellite Press TV reported.
Interpreting Russia's behavior "has become more and more difficult for us," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
"Our people don't know if they (Russians) are our friends, on our side or after something different," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted him as saying.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday in a Senate hearing that the U.S. and its Western allies had reached an agreement with Russia and China over a draft UN Security Council resolution that would expand sanctions against Iran for its failure to halt its controversial nuclear program.
With the coordination of Brazil and Turkey, Iran agreed earlier this month to deposit 1,200 kg of its 3.5 percent (low-enriched) uranium in Turkey, 120 kg of 20 percent uranium for the need of the Tehran Research Reactor will return to Iran within one year. However, Iran announced later that uranium enrichment will be continued within the country.
Addressing a crowd in Iran's central city of Kerman, Ahmadinejad said "if I were in the shoes of Russian president, I would have thought twice over the issues that are related to the great Iranian people," according to Fars.
Iran hopes the Russians could correct their positions since Tehran declaration is the only opportunity for resolving Iran's nuclear issue, he added.
Russian leaders should not let Iranians think they (the Russians) are on Iran's historical enemies' side, he said, implying the West.
The U.S. and other Western countries have been accusing Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, a charge denied by Iran.
Related:
Fresh sanctions against Iran
BEIJING, May 26 -- Iran's recent formal notification to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its nuclear fuel swap deal with Turkey and Brazil - a move aimed at budging from its previous tough stance - is expected to undercut the US-led international campaign for fresh sanctions against Teheran.
Due to deep concerns over Iran's nuclear program, the international community has pushed for several rounds of Teheran-targeted United Nations Security Council resolutions, urging the Islamic nation to put a moratorium on its uranium enrichment. Full story
China calls for peaceful solution to Iranian nuclear issue
BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the Iranian nuclear issue will be solved quickly through dialogue and negotiation, said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu here Tuesday.
"The Security Council discussing the Iranian nuclear issue does not mean the end of diplomatic efforts," she said. "We value and welcome the agreement reached among Brazil, Turkey and Iran on Tehran's research reactor." Full story
Iran hopes Moscow to influence other major powers over sanctions
MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran hopes that Russia is able to persuade others of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany not to impose any new sanctions against Tehran, Iranian Ambassador Mahmud Reza Sajadi said on Tuesday.
"We believe Russia could persuade the international community in the frames of five plus one group not to impose sanctions," Russia's RBC news agency quoted quoted the ambassador as saying. Full story
