Russia says EU draft on Iran sanctions goes too far
Source: Reuters
(Adds quotes from Lavrov, background) BRUSSELS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - A draft resolution drawn up by Britain, France and Germany to impose U.N. sanctions on Iran goes far beyond what had been agreed, Russia's foreign minister said on Friday. Sergei Lavrov said it had been agreed by the big powers that measures against Iran should be "reasonable...be proportional given the actual situation as regards the nuclear programme in Iran and should also be in stages". "We were prepared and are still prepared to draw up measures of that sort," he told a news conference after talks in Brussels with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja representing the EU Presidency and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. "We do not intend to drop back our efforts as regards to the problem of Iran and nuclear power," Lavrov said. But he added: "What the EU troika drew up went way beyond what was agreed." Lavrov spoke ahead of big-power talks at the United Nations on what steps should be taken against Iran over its nuclear ambitions, which the West believes are a cover for bomb-making but Tehran says are for electricity generation. Negotiations on the draft resolution, drawn up by Britain, France and Germany with general U.S. support, promise to be arduous, possibly lasting weeks, because veto-wielding Russia and China oppose tough sanctions. On Wednesday, Lavrov said Russia rejected steps that would corner Iran, alluding to a travel ban in the draft. The draft orders all countries to prevent the sale and supply of equipment, technology and financing contributing to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. It would freeze assets of people and entities involved in these programmes and prevent them from travelling except for special events. Russia's demands are expected to include softening the sanctions and redefining an exemption for a nuclear reactor Moscow is building for Iran, said council members speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
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