The UN Security Council's draft resolution on Iran looks punitive, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference yesterday.
Most of the resolution's points "leave one with an impression that our
partners are going to punish Tehran," Lavrov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news
agency as saying.
Some countries tried to reshape the wording of the resolution in their favor
so as to "block channels for trade relations with Iran in legitimate spheres,"
Lavrov said.
The UN Security Council "must support efforts of the IAEA (International
Atomic Energy Agency), and not substitute for the IAEA," he said.
However, when "it concerns the introduction of restrictions on technological
deliveries to Iran," the wording of the resolution shows "qualitative changes
and a substantial progress," Lavrov said.
He said that there is an "understanding (in the Security Council) that a
solution in this field should be not all-embracing,but concern technologies of
uranium enrichment, chemical reprocessing of nuclear fuel, deliveries of heavy
water reactors, as well as means of delivery of nuclear weapons."
"We see positive changes in this respect," Lavrov said.
Lavrov reminded reporters that six international mediators "have reached an
agreement to seek the solution of Iran's problem through negotiations, and
agreed that the use of force in the solution of the conflict is out of the
question."
"If we observe these principles, the decision will be made quickly," he
stressed.