A Russian - German summit Thursday urged Iran to fulfill its international nuclear obligations, a day before a U.N. Security Council deadline for the Islamic Republic to stop enriching uranium.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated in Tomsk that the crisis over Iran's nuclear development could be resolved only through diplomatic means. "It's still too early to run ahead and say what decision we might take together," the Russian leader said. "The main thing is ... that whatever decision is taken is a consensus decision."
Iran has thus far rejected the demand to stop the enrichment. "Our position is clear and well known. We are for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Putin said, according to the AP. "But we believe that Iran must have an opportunity to develop modern technologies and peaceful nuclear energy."
On her part, Merkel stressed the need for a diplomatic resolution. "We are very interested for the world community, as it has been from the start, to work together and show Iran that we want to work by diplomatic methods," she stated. "But it is necessary for Iran to keep to the agreements that it has committed itself to." "We are not talking about banning Iran from using nuclear energy for civilian goals, but it must keep to its obligations and agreements," Merkel conveyed.
Earlier in the day, China's Foreign Ministry has noted the need for restraint. "We hope the relevant parties can keep calm and exercise restraint so as to avoid moves that would further escalate the situation," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
