Russia says it remains opposed to sanctions against Iran

MOSCOW, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia remains opposed to sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

"We believe any problem should be resolved through political and diplomatic means," Andrei Nesterenko told a regular press briefing. "We do not speak the language of sanctions, as we have said many times."

The spokesman also said Russia was fully committed to launching Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on schedule.

"Our cooperation with Iran on the construction of the nuclear power plant is being carried out in strict compliance with our international obligations," he said.

The delay in launching the Bushehr plant should not be politicalized or be linked to the ongoing talks on Iran's nuclear program, said Nesterenko.

Russia signed a contract with Iran in February 1998 to complete the nuclear power plant, but has frequently postponed switching on the reactor.

Iran claimed that Russia was reluctant to finish the facility due to U.N. sanctions and suspicions of a covert nuclear weapons program.

Iran is at the center of an international dispute over its nuclear ambitions. Western powers suspect Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at generating nuclear energy for civilian purposes.