Putin: Russia won't pursue ultimatums in dealing with Iran
"We will not participate in an ultimatum which would drive the situation into a dead end."
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia would not pursue ultimatums in dealing with the tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
"We will not participate in an ultimatum which would drive the situation into a dead end," he said in a speech to diplomats.
The United States and Europe are pressing Iran to quickly respond to a package of incentives to give up uranium enrichment and resume negotiations over its nuclear ambitions.
The West suspects Iran is enriching uranium to create nuclear weapons. Teheran contends the program is intended solely for peaceful electricity generation.
Putin added that Russia has already significantly contributed to helping resolve the crisis by putting forward plans of building international uranium enrichment centers, where Iran could have other countries, such as Russia, enrich uranium on its behalf.
Teheran says it is still considering the offer.
The meeting began with the diplomats standing for a moment of silence for four Russian Embassy workers who were killed in Iraq.