Russia says UN resolution sends 'clear signals' to Iran: Interfax

MOSCOW (AFP) — A proposed UN resolution contains "clear signals" to Iran that it must return to full compliance with the UN's nuclear watchdog, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said in an interview published Sunday.

"When this document is published you will see that it contains clear signals to Iran and anticipates a certain widening of the sanctions regime imposed by the Security Council earlier," Kislyak told the Interfax news agency.

"What is needed is complete cooperation by Iran with the governing council of the IAEA," Kislyak said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The UN Security Council has been circulating a draft resolution tightening sanctions against the Islamic republic for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

The West fears Iran is hiding a nuclear weapons programme behind its stated aim of developing civilian nuclear energy, something Tehran denies.

Russia, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has close ties to Tehran and is completing work on Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr.

Moscow said on January 28 it had finished delivering fuel for the power plant.

The proposed new measures against Iran include an outright travel ban on officials involved in Tehran's nuclear and missile programmes and inspections of shipments to and from Iran if there are suspicions of prohibited goods.