Iran enriching uranium, Russia says

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MOSCOW, June 4 (UPI) -- Iran is moving forward with its uranium enrichment activities despite a renewed threat of sanctions, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The White House said it hopes the U.N. Security Council will back a draft resolution on new sanctions for Iran next week. The draft targets Iranian banks and other assets as punishment for weapons development and uranium enrichment.

Andrei Nesterenko, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Iran is actively enriching uranium despite the sanctions threat, Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports.

"The situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program is well-known. Tehran continues enriching uranium, including to a 20 percent level," he said.

Iran in a May 17 deal with Turkey and Brazil agreed to a fuel swap meant to allay some of the international concerns. Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian uses.

Nesterenko said Moscow was still wary of Tehran's cooperation with the international community.

Russia is a veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security Council.