Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gave the strongest sign yet on Monday that Moscow is moving closer to the West's stance on Iran, saying it was clear Tehran was gaining the ability to build a nuclear bomb. Medvedev's comments were the starkest criticism of Iran's nuclear programme to emerge from the Kremlin under Medvedev or his predecessor Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and signal Moscow may be losing patience after years of a soft line toward Tehran.
"It is obvious that Iran is moving closer to possessing the potential which in principle could be used for the creation of nuclear weapons," Medvedev told a biannual meeting of Russia's ambassadors in Moscow. "Iran is not acting in the best way," Medvedev said. He called on Tehran to "show openness and cooperate" with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Moscow has been Tehran's main nuclear partner, building Iran's first nuclear power plant near the city of Bushehr, which is set to begin operations later this year. Russia also was swift to congratulate Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on a disputed election victory last year. Urged on by the Obama administration, Russia voted for a UN Security Council resolution on June 9 to impose new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. Medvedev said he was still sceptical of sanctions but they could prod diplomacy.
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