Russia calls on Iran to halt enrichment

MOSCOW, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A Russian official, in a statement released Tuesday, urged Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

The interview with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak was published on the Foreign Ministry Web site, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. He said Iran should stop enriching uranium pending the outcome of negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency over "complicated points" in its nuclear program.

"I believe that all this is entirely achievable if the appropriate political decisions are taken. International concerns can be easily allayed to create more favorable conditions for Iran's extensive cooperation with other countries," Kislyak said.

The draft agreement worked out by the five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council includes "serious signals" for Iran, he added.