MOSCOW - Russia welcomed Saturday a US initiative on Iran, saying it could assist European efforts to ensure that Tehran does not try to develop nuclear weapons.
"Moscow positively evaluates" the US initiative "which contains new elements in US policy toward Iran," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a statement.
The Russian reaction came after Washington announced Friday it would it would drop objections to Iran joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and consider allowing it access to spare parts for its decrepit fleet of civilian aircraft.
US President George W. Bush said the initiative was aimed at helping efforts by Britain, France and Germany to persuade Iran to abandon uranium enrichment, which could provide Tehran's clerical regime with the capacity to build a bomb.
Russia believes that the shift brings the US position on Iran into line with that of Russia and western European countries that are working to persuade Iran not to develop a nuclear weapons program, Yakovenko said.
But Tehran has already turned down the US offer, saying it was determined to pursue its nuclear program, which it says is for peaceful purposes.
03/12/2005 15:00 GMT