Russia has warned the United States and the European Union against adopting individual sanctions that go beyond a UN Security Council resolution planned in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Ria Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday.
“There is information that the US and the European Union are not limiting themselves to a common position on Iran in the UN Security Council and want to introduce additional, one—sided sanctions,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying after a phone conversation with his US counterpart, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Such leverage could breach international laws, he said.
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Mr. Lavrov also confirmed that a fundamental agreement on stricter sanctions against Iran has been reached by the veto powers on the Security Council, plus Germany.
“Now, the non—permanent members of the Security Council will have a chance to weigh in on the draft,” he said.
Mr. Lavrov said he is optimistic that the discussion in the Security Council, along with a uranium swap agreement reached by Brazil and Turkey in Tehran, can lead to a resumption of talks with Iran.
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