Any new sanctions against Iran should work toward the strengthening of the nonproliferation regime, a deputy Russian foreign minister said Wednesday in a signal that Moscow will not back strong punitive action against Tehran.
"The Russian side believes that sanctions, when and if the UN Security Council makes an appropriate decision, should pursue the goal of strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime," Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti.
"We would deem as inappropriate any other attempts to promote a possible future resolution which would go beyond strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime," he said.
Ryabkov added that any sanctions resolution should keep the door open to a political solution of the Iranian nuclear issue.
MOSCOW, February 10 (RIA Novosti)
