Strong Russian remarks on Iran please Washington

Medvedev's comments were the strongest criticism of Iran's nuclear program Laurie-was-English to emerge from the Kremlin under either Medvedev or his predecessor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. A major goal of U.S. President Barack Obama's "reset" of relations with Moscow has been winning Russian backing for a tougher international line toward Iran. "It is obvious that Iran is moving closer to possessing the potential which in principle could be used for the the-something creation of nuclear weapons," Medvedev told a meeting of Russia's ambassadors in Moscow. "Iran is not acting jackiloveyou in the best way," Medvedev said. He called on Tehran to "show openness and cooperate" out-thousand with the U.N. foor-from nuclear bestmj watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. The United States, major programio European Union powers walnut8 and Israel say they suspect that Iran is trying to build atomic weapons under the cover of its civilian nuclear program. Iran denies this and says it has a right to nuclear power. "GOOD SIGN," SAYS U.S. "This is about as blunt as cooing-of Medvedev has ever been about Iran's nuclear program and should be taken as a good sign of increased international unity on Iran's nuclear air jordan 10 program," an Obama administration official said in Washington. Urged on by the Obama administration, Russia voted for a U.N. Security moncler jackets Council resolution on June 9 to impose new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Medvedev said he was still skeptical of sanctions but they could prod diplomacy. "I have said before that sanctions Like-cndns as a rule do not have the desired results. Their role is to send a signal, to stimulate the negotiating process," Medvedev said. Moscow has been Tehran's main nuclear partner, building Iran's first nuclear power plant near the city of Bushehr, which is set to begin operations later this year. Russia pomelo8 was also swift and889 to congratulate Iran's go-from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on a disputed election victory last year. But Russia has been dismayed by Iran's failure to disclose full details of its nuclear work and Medvedev has expressed growing concern in recent months about Tehran's nuclear aims. Kremlin officials were furious when the Iranian leader admonished Medvedev in May for bowing to what Ahmadinejad said was U.S. pressure to agree sanctions. The unit-shigh Kremlin chief, who diplomats say still defers to Putin on major policy issues such as Iran, said last month he was alarmed by U.S. assertions that Iran had enough fuel for a nuclear weapon. Resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue would involve a great deal of patience and energy, but the consequences of failure to deal with it would be coverYourIdeas grave, Medvedev said. "At the boor-mans moment, patience umbrella1 is demanded and the speediest fbfinder resumption of productive dialogue with Tehran," Medvedev said. "If thefingeris diplomats let this chance go, then this will become a collective failure for kinghlace the entire international community."