UN Security Council & Germany united over Iran

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany agreed in Berlin on a new resolution against Iran's nuclear programme.

The adopted text does not call for tougher economic sanctions, but rather a closer relationship between Tehran and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Sergey Lavrov has said he is glad that the new text differs from the initial intentions to punish Iran rather than to support the IAEA in its attempts to clarify what wasn’t known about Iran’s nuclear activity in the past.

“Iranians have convinced us that they are ready to clarify all the remaining questions in the next two or three weeks. If Iran agrees with the proposals of the six nations, we can start direct talks with Tehran. They will be devoted not only to the nuclear problem and Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes but also to expanding economic partnership and co-operation on regional problems,” said Sergey Lavrov.

The resolution says the Security Council must focus on supporting the agency and any measures must be a reflection of Iran's real actions.

“Germany, France and the UK will submit a draft resolution to the Security Council, where it will be discussed with the remaining council members in the coming weeks,” said Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.