AFP, Moscow, Sept 28, 2009 – Russia expressed concern over Iran’s missile tests and called for ’restraint’ from the Islamic republic, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday, according to Russian news agencies.

’It is not prohibited by any international agreement, but of course when missile launches occur on top of the unresolved situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, it’s worrying,’ he said.’I am sure that restraint must be shown,’ he told Russian reporters in New York after meeting his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, the news agency reports said.Lavrov also called on Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following Tehran’s admission that it is building another uranium enrichment plant.’This meeting takes on particular importance following the news that Iran is building a second uranium enrichment plant,’ he said.’In this context, we have stated our position and proposed (to Iran) to demonstrate maximum cooperation with the IAEA so that it can examine the new site.’Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would be key to Western attempts to tighten sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.

 Moscow has long resisted such moves.The missile tests and disclosure of the new plant come just ahead of landmark talks between Iran and six major world powers.The five UN Security Council permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — plus Germany are due to take part in the talks with Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on October 1.