In Russia, Clinton seeks collusion against Iran

The US secretary of state is expected to discuss prospects of further sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program during her talks with Russian officials.

State Secretary US Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Moscow late Monday, will ask Russia “what specific forms of pressure Russia would be prepared to join us and our other allies if Iran fails to live up to its obligations,” an official with State Department was quoted by AFP as saying.

The two-day visit came after the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany held talks with Iran on October 1 in Geneva on the issue of mutual concerns and global crises.

Although the participants at the meeting called the talks positive, Clinton on Sunday warned Iran of further punitive measures if Tehran fails to fulfill “its international obligations” over its nuclear drive.

The west accuses Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of pursuing atomic weapons — a charged Tehran has repeatedly denied.

The claim came as Iran’s nuclear program has been under close inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has confirmed the civilian nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.

Moreover, the United States, France and the United Kingdom have been violating the article of the NPT for the past 40 years, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh has said.

Clinton, who will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Dmitry Medvedev, is also expected to discuss a proposal by Iran to buy 20-percent enriched uranium for research purposes.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that “our experts will discuss the purchase of 20-percent enriched uranium for producing radiomedicine in Tehran research reactor with them (representatives of P5+1) next Monday” during the next round of talks.