'Do not attack Iran'

MOSCOW (AP):

A senior Russian diplomat yesterday strongly warned the West against an attack on Iran, saying that it would upset global security.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the ITAR-Tass news agency that a military action against Iran would be a "grave mistake, a flagrant error" with far-reaching consequences for regional and global stability. "It could shake the foundations of the international system," he said.

Ryabkov also said Russia is firmly against any new sanctions on Iran, adding that they wouldn't help nuclear non-proliferation. He said unilateral sanctions by some Western powers will hurt efforts to settle the Iranian nuclear standoff through talks.

Russia has long mixed careful criticism of Iran, an important trading partner, with praise for some of its moves and calls for more talks.

Ryabkov's comments followed Tuesday's Russian Foreign Ministry statement that expressed regret and concern about the launch of work at a new Iranian uranium-enrichment facility, but urged all parties involved in the nuclear stand-off with Tehran to avoid hasty moves.

Iran insists its uranium enrichment programme is aimed at civilian power generation and research, but Western nations believe it is a cover for a nuclear-weapons bid.