Date:06/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/06/stories/2007120652541500.htm

International

No evidence: Russia

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Russia has no evidence that Iran ever pursued a nuclear weapons programme, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

He confirmed the findings of the U.S. intelligence report, but refuted the report’s claim that Iran had run such a programme prior to 2003. “Data that we have don’t allow to assert that Iran has ever had a nuclear weapons proramme,” said Mr. Lavrov on Wednesday.

He suggested that Moscow would oppose new sanctions against Iran the U.S. is calling for. He said Iran had promised to answer all outstanding questions of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.