Iranian decision fails to create favorable environment for Almaty talks - Russian diplomat
MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Russia and its partners in the P5+1 group (the UN Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany) are troubled by Iran's plans to install new-generation centrifuges, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax.
"Recently the Iranian side notified us of its intention to install new-generation centrifuges, which caused concern in all P5+1 group participants, including our country, because such plans contradict the requirements imposed on Iran by the [UN] Security Council's resolutions and the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] Board of Governors," he said.
"The Iranian nuclear program continues developing, nuclear materials are being accumulated and efforts are underway at the Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities," Ryabkov said.
"All this fails to create a very favorable environment for the Almaty round, and I hesitate to predict its outcome," the Russian diplomat said ahead of the P5+1 group's talks with Iranian representatives in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on February 26.