Military strike would ruin efforts to resolve Iran nuclear issue: Russian FM

TEHRAN,Oct.13(MNA) – Moscow is opposed to the use of force against Iran since it would destroy the efforts to resolve the dispute over its nuclear problem, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday, Xinhua reported. A strike against Iran would be “a shortcut to destruction” of all efforts to settle the issue, Lavrov told a news conference after he addressed the Federation Council, the upper house of the parliament. Moscow believes that the only way out of the controversy is negotiations between the six major powers and Teheran, he said, hinting that there was hope the solution toward the problem was nearing. The latest round of high-level talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over the country’s nuclear program was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19. No decision has yet been made on the next round of negotiations. According to a statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website, the international community could recognize Iran’s right to uranium enrichment if Teheran settles issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency. “Iran and IAEA have also planned contacts in the nearest future to discuss these issues and settle them consequently,” Lavrov stated. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Russian foreign minister advised international players against spreading rumors about “inevitable” conflicts between Iran and Israel. “I would admonish all who offer these panic scenarios about (a) looming conflict between Iran and Israel,” Lavrov said.