Russia, China favour talks in Tehran, not UN sanctions

Washington and its European Union allies say EU-led talks with Iran have failed to quell suspicion that Tehran is seeking a nuclear bomb, despite its denials, and it is time the UN nuclear watchdog agency sent the case to the Security Council. The Council could eventually decide to impose diplomatic or trade sanctions on Iran, though this would depend on the consent of its five permanent members, including Russia and China.

8216;8216;The question of sanctions against Iran puts the cart before the horse. Sanctions are in no way the best, or the only, way to solve the problem,8217;8217; Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Moscow8217;s 1 billion stake in building Iran8217;s first atomic reactor gives it potential leverage over Tehran.

President Vladimir Putin hinted on Monday that Moscow was closing patience with Iran after it resumed nuclear fuel research last week, but he warned against any 8216;8216;abrupt, erroneous steps.8217;8217;

He also said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Moscow on Monday that Russia, European countries and the US had 8216;8216;very close positions8217;8217; on Iran.

While Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said his country favoured EU diplomacy to resolve the crisis. 8216;8216;We think the most urgent thing for all the parties now is still to keep patient and make utmost efforts to resume the negotiations between the EU3 and Iran,8217;8217; Quan said. 8212;Reuters