Medvedev urges Iran to take responsible action on nuclear program

President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that responsible behavior by Iran is key to ending the deadlock over its controversial nuclear program.

"We believe that Iran should adapt its nuclear programs to requirements of international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and also that work in this area should be transparent for oversight," Medvedev said in an interview with the French magazine Paris Match that was published on the Kremlin website.

Medvedev said Moscow shared global concerns over the Iranian nuclear program.

"We are continuing talks with major negotiators and Iran, and we are ready to contribute to this process," he said.

Iran's recent move to produce high-grade uranium with a purity of 20 percent stoked a new wave of international criticism, with the United States leading the calls for harsher sanctions against the Islamic republic.

The West accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program, but Tehran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

Russia, which has long said it prefers to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic means, is showing growing frustration with Iran's refusal to cooperate with the international community.

Source: Xinhua