BEIJING, March 22: Russia remains opposed to issuing Iran an “ultimatum” on its nuclear ambitions that involves sanctions, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here on Wednesday. Mr Lavrov reiterated Russia’s opposition to a draft statement currently before the Security Council that would press Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and develop a broader strategy to deal with Tehran’s nuclear program.“In fact it is rather an ultimatum,” Mr Lavrov told reporters while in Beijing as part of a delegation accompanying President Vladimir Putin.

“This draft includes formulae that will practically prepare the ground for introducing sanctions against Iran, so it is unlikely that we will be able to support this draft as it is,” he said.

The UN Security Council on Tuesday put off a scheduled meeting on the Iranian nuclear crisis to allow more work on the Franco-British statement to take into account Russian objections.

Russia has repeatedly said the Iran nuclear crisis should be resolved within the the International Atomic Energy Agency, effectively ruling out sanctions.

“To take the Iran nuclear problem out of the IAEA and put it fully before the leadership of the Security Council is not correct because a professional evaluation can only be made by IAEA inspectors,” Mr Lavrov said.

—AFP