Russian FM blasts Iran but agrees to further talks

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Iran of adopting an unhelpful attitude during talks on Tehran's nuclear program late Monday, but said Moscow had agreed to an Iranian request for further consultations. "Iran in the last day or two appealed to us again to hold consultations," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters. "They will take place in the nearest future." Recent talks on Russia's Western-backed offer to host Iran's uranium enrichment program produced no results after Tehran rejected Moscow's demand to suspend uranium enrichment activities at home. Lavrov reiterated that a halt to enrichment activities was a condition for the proposal, which was seen as a way for Iran to avoid the threat of UN sanctions.