Foreign Ministry: Moscow to continue cooperation with Iran in nuclear area

Moscow will continue its bilateral cooperation with Iran in the nuclear area, said Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affair's Department of Press and Information Alexander Yakovenko. He said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had no claims against Russia on this question because Moscow is cooperating with Iran exclusively for peaceful goals. Nevertheless, Yakovenko said that it was necessary for Iran to ratify an additional protocol of the IAEA in connection with requirements of the agreement on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. 'We are coming out for complete openness in Iran's nuclear program and in this context we want Iran to sign the additional protocol in order to quell fears which exist in specific countries,' said Yakovenko. Moreover, Yakovenko said that 'Russia was the initiator of the agreement and called on Iran to sign it.'