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Russia critical of EU sanctions against Iran
Jan 23, 2012, 15:46 GMT
Moscow - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was critical on Monday of planned new European Union sanctions against Iran, saying they would push Tehran away from the negotiating table and do little to increase regional security.
'These unilateral steps are not helpful,' Lavrov said at a press conference in the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi, the Interfax news agency reported.
Lavrov's remarks came after the EU announced plans for a ban on future oil deliveries to its 27 member nations.
'We (Russia) will restrain ourselves from hasty actions, we will work for a renewal of talks,' Lavrov said.
Russia supports a return to dialogue between Iran and the Five Plus One group comprising the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, Lavrov said.
Kremlin officials, among them Lavrov, have repeatedly stated they believe additional sanctions against Iran to be counter-productive and said that Russia would veto any UN Security Council resolution applying sanctions.
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