MOSCOW. June 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Iran is ready to join all IAEA protocols and requirements implying full-scale control over its nuclear programs, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a Friday news conference in the Kremlin.
"According to our knowledge, the Iranian leadership is ready for full accession to all protocols and requirements of the IAEA on control over its nuclear programs," he said.
The Russian president said that during a telephone conversation two days ago, President Mohammad Khatami "once again confirmed that Tehran has no plans for developing nuclear weapons."
Putin said the attitudes of Russia and the United States on Iranian nuclear programs "are closer than it would seem at first sight."
"We proceed from our fundamental approach that we are categorically opposed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction on the planet and support strengthening nonproliferation regulations," Putin said.
This applies to all countries, primarily those that have signed the nonproliferation treaty, he said. He noted that Iran is one of the signatory countries.
On the IAEA board meeting that ended in Vienna on Thursday, Putin said that it did not pass any resolutions denouncing Iran. The resolution spoke of the need to continue joint work with the Iranian leadership, he said.
Russia "together with other members of the international community will continue actively working on the problem," Putin said.
"The only thing we are opposed to is the use of the nuclear card for launching unfair competition on the Iranian market," he said.