Russia warns against hasty Iran action

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it would be irresponsible to take hasty action on Iran's atomic programme before …

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it would be irresponsible to take hasty action on Iran's atomic programme before the United Nations nuclear watchdog completes its work, the RIA news agency reported.

"Until the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) reports on what is going on in Iran, until we receive these answers, it would be irresponsible to make any sharp movements," Mr Lavrov was quoted by RIA as saying.

"When we hear calls to use force against Iran, which has fallen foul of IAEA rules, then we question what this could lead to," Mr Lavrov was quoted by RIA as saying. President Vladimir Putin is to travel to Tehran next week for talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Russia has opposed tougher sanctions on Iran, which the United States and leading European Union states believe is trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civilian atomic programme.