Putin: We Oppose West Approaches On Iran

Moscow, Feb 25, IRNA – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has criticized west's approaches toward Iran and its nuclear program and expressed doubt about western states' truthfulness. In a meeting with a group of Russian experts in the city of Sarov, an important center for Russian nuclear activity, Putin said, 'I believe under pretext of preventing proliferation of mass-destruction weapons and in direction of preventing Iran not to turn to an atomic power, efforts are being done to change government of the country.' He said that Russian stance differs with western approaches in that concern and continued that western countries are trying to neutralize Iran’s efforts to join nuclear club as a new member. Putin rejected claim of Vladimir Arlov, head of Russian political researches, that Moscow does not have enough independent stance on Iran nuclear dossier. The Russian expert asked whether it is not time for Russia to ignore following US policy and started again military-technical cooperation with Iran, again. Putin answered, 'About our independent stance concerning Tehran, I should say that we show this approach with completion of Bushehr nuclear power plant and we completed in spite of all pressures and we intend to continue this behavior and act independently.' He concluded that Moscow opposes hostile policies against other states in international arena./end