Moscow, Sept 13: Russia today called on Iran to abide by a UN nuclear watchdog resolution that gave the Islamic state until October 31 to prove it is not secretly developing atomic weapons. "This is not an ultimatum, it is a serious and respectful call for Iran to cooperate" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak told a news agency. "We are counting on Tehran to constructively and seriously answer this call," he said. It is "in Iran's interests to answer these questions and thus reinforce the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme." "This will only improve conditions for Iran to continue its cooperation with other governments, including Russia, on its peaceful nuclear programmes," Kislyak said.


The IAEA adopted the resolution without a vote at its Vienna Headquarters yesterday, sparking an angry walkout from the Iranian ambassador, who blasted the agency for descending into "political dialogue."


The decision followed five days of closed-door talks, during which Washington had furiously lobbied for the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors to accept the text.
Bureau Report