MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call Tuesday that Moscow’s ally Iran has a “right” to develop a peaceful nuclear programme, the Kremlin said.
Putin emphasised “the lawful right of Tehran in developing a peaceful nuclear (programme)”, according to the Kremlin transcript of the call, AFP reported.
It said both presidents agreed that the conflict over Iranian nuclear programme and other Middle Eastern conflicts should be solved “exclusively” by diplomatic means and that the two leaders would “continue contacts” on this.
Similarly, Reuters reported that Putin said it was necessary to respect Iran’s right to the peaceful development of nuclear energy as well as its continued compliance with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Iran’s parliament approved a bill last month to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, after Israel and the United States bombed Iranian nuclear sites, aiming to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran has denied seeking one.
Macron “expressed his determination to seek a diplomatic solution that would lead to a lasting and rigorous resolution of the nuclear issue, the question of Iran’s missiles, and its role in the region”, his office said, adding that the two leaders had decided to coordinate their efforts.