Russia Sharply Reacts To IAEA Report On Iran: Statement

Moscow, Nov 9, IRNA – The Foreign Ministry of Russia in a sharply worded statement criticized the released report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief on Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities. The statement stressed that the IAEA chief's report has increased tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. It was so regrettable that the IAEA report turned into media ballyhoo before even being released, the statement said. Having access to the IAEA secret information before its release raised a question of how much the agency has been successful in keeping its secrets closed that is a basic principle, the statement reiterated. The Russian Foreign Ministry underlined that the report should be reviewed in a calm atmosphere that needs to take time. The ministry asked whether that report is made on the basis of real documents or just is presented due to anti-Iran approaches. 'We have serious doubts about the justification for steps to reveal the contents of the report to a broad public, primarily because it is precisely now that certain chances for the renewal of dialogue between the 'sextet' of international mediators and Tehran have begun to appear. 'Today, as never before, it is important to keep public steps in line with the interests of progress toward a political and diplomatic resolution,' the ministry said./end