Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his country’s support for Iran’s nuclear energy program, saying the Islamic Republic has an “absolute” right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his country’s support for Iran's nuclear energy program, saying the Islamic Republic has an “absolute” right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
“Russia has always supported the progress and rights of the Iranian nation in all international circles, and regards the use of peaceful nuclear energy as an absolute right of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said Putin in a meeting with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the 12th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing on Thursday.
Like Tehran, which opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and atomic weapons, Russia has also founded its acts on such a basis, he added.
The Russian president noted that Moscow has been in ‘close contact’ with Tehran over all international issues, including Iran's nuclear energy issue.
Putin also stressed the importance of improving bilateral cooperation in various economic fields.
On Wednesday, Russia and China, two veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, opposed any use of military force and threats to do so as well as unilateral sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.
Moscow and Beijing called for dialog to find a diplomatic solution regarding Iran's nuclear energy program.
President Ahmadinejad, for his part, said cooperation between Iran and Russia would guarantee peace and security of the two nations and the entire region as both sides have improved their constructive and positive relations.
“There are ill-wishers [though] who oppose the expansion of ties and cooperation between Iran and Russia…Cooperation between the two countries can ensure the establishment of peace and security for their people and other regional nations,” he stated.
He urged Tehran and Moscow to make use of their great capabilities to bolster mutual relations regarding the ongoing regional and international circumstances.
