New Russian position on Iran?

08/02/10 19:18 CET

Nuclear weapons

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There appears to be a change in Moscow’s tone on the Iran nuclear question.

A senior Russian lawmaker says tougher sanctions against the Islamic Republic should be considered.

The comments come from the head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament.

This after Iran announced it would this week start making higher-grade reactor fuel, enriching its uranium reserves to up to 20 percent.

Russia’s foreign minister says the Islamic Republic should send its uranium abroad to be enriched and not do the work itself.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad maintains his country is still willing to follow a UN plan to export its uranium abroad to ease Western concerns.

Low-level enrichment is needed for fuel for a power plant, but higher levels can be used to make weapons.