Russia said Friday that it opposes new economic penalties aimed at pressuring Iran to halt atomic work that could support nuclear weapons development, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Nov. 14).
A Russian representative discussed Iran's disputed nuclear activities on Friday with envoys from China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is strictly intended to produce fuel for a nuclear energy program.
"Russia is against the sanctions pushed forward by some of the six" nations, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov said. "The Western countries are for the sanctions. China, like Russia, did not back it" (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Nov. 14).
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday urged the international community to strengthen efforts to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, Reuters reported.
"We must increase our measures to prevent Iran from achieving its devious goals," Olmert said. "Iran cannot become nuclear. Israel cannot afford it ... the free world must not accept it.
"We must unite our forces as part of the international community, led by the United States of America. We must confront Iran's malevolent diligence and thwart it with greater force," he said.
"Iran has not terminated its pursuit of nuclear weapons," Olmert added.
Israel has endorsed financial penalties against Tehran, but has also refused to rule out potential military action against Iranian nuclear facilities. Israeli officials have also expressed trepidation regarding U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's declared willingness to engage Iran in direct nuclear talks (Reuters/New York Times, Nov. 17).