Israel FM urges firmer stance from Russia on Iran
MOSCOW (AFP) — Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called on Moscow on Thursday to "demonstrate firmness" in relation to Iran's nuclear programme, after talks with her Russian counterpart in Moscow.
Russia and Israel "have a common understanding that Iran should not have nuclear weapons," Livni told journalists after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"We think this common understanding should be moved to the level of genuine action."
Russia has resisted Israeli calls for tougher sanctions against Iran, which Israel claims is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies such intentions.
Israel has also raised concerns over Moscow's decision to supply Tehran with fuel for its first nuclear power station in the southern city of Bushehr and sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles.
Lavrov promised "firmness" against Iran and said Russia would continue to look for a diplomatic resolution to the dispute. "There is no rational alternative," he said.
Lavrov is due to meet the foreign ministers of Russia's fellow veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain and China -- in Berlin next Tuesday to discuss a possible new round of sanctions.
Widely considered the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, Israel regards Iran as its main foe after calls by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for it to be "wiped off the map".
