Russian FM rejects use of force to resolve Iran nuclear issue

TEHRAN,Feb.3(MNA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the use of force against Iran to resolve the dispute over the country’s nuclear program is “unacceptable.” “The use of military force against Iran is an unacceptable option,” the Voice of Russia quoted Lavrov as saying at the 49th Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Lavrov supported German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle’s proposal that “this issue be approached not only in the context of the nuclear problem of Iran but also in the context of regional security.” According to the report, Russia has proposed in its contacts with the Persian Gulf countries over the past several years that the six powers negotiating with Iran to settle the nuclear problem, the UN, the EU, Iran’s neighbors, and Iran itself consider convening a joint security conference. Iran is holding talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, known as the 5+1 group, and also with the International Atomic Energy Agency to reach an agreement on the country’s nuclear activities. The six major powers have demanded that Iran halt 20 percent enrichment of uranium, shut down the Fordo uranium enrichment facility, and ship all of its stocks of 20 percent enriched uranium out of the country. Iran’s main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the NPT, be recognized.