Clinton, Lavrov discuss Iran nuclear tensions: Russia

AFP, Moscow, April 25, 2010 – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken by telephone to her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about the Iranian nuclear standoff, the Russian foreign ministry said Sunday.
The two ’discussed in detail the current situation with the Iranian nuclear programme, establishing that further steps should be taken on the agreed basis, taking into account the opinions of each of the six powers,’ it said.
The foreign ministry statement said the phone call had taken place Saturday at Clinton’s request but provided no other details.
The six powers are the group of countries which have been negotiating with Tehran in a bid to ease tensions over its nuclear programme. They are Russia, the United States, Britain, China, France and Germany.
The administration of US President Barack Obama has been seeking to convince Russia to support tougher sanctions against Iran in the UN Security Council in order to rein in Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
The United States and its allies fear that Iran is seeking to acquire atomic weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy programme, while Tehran insists the programme is peaceful in nature.