Medvedev Says Iran Nuclear Stance ‘Unreasonably Tough’

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Iran’s policy on its nuclear program is “unreasonably tough” and urged inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Iran must allow IAEA officials on its territory and make it possible to bring the situation under control,” Medvedev said at a meeting with students in Mumbai today. “This is why there are issues with Iran and sanctions against it.”

The Persian Gulf state in mid-2010 came under a fourth set of United Nations sanctions, which were supported by Russia, as well as tougher U.S. and European Union measures.

IAEA inspectors have been stymied by Iranian officials, who have refused to discuss documents that show Iran may have researched the construction of nuclear weapons. The IAEA, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, has been investigating Iran’s nuclear work since 2003, when it was revealed that the government had hidden atomic research for two decades.

Medvedev said in July that Iran was getting closer to achieving the capability to make nuclear weapons. Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, refuses UN demands to suspend enrichment of uranium, saying the work is necessary for civilian purposes such as power generation. The U.S. and many of its allies say Iran’s nuclear technology may be intended for a weapons program.

Iran on Dec. 7 agreed to more talks on its nuclear program while saying it would “absolutely not” suspend uranium enrichment. The agreement between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group -- China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K. and U.S. -- followed two days of negotiations in Geneva. The next talks will be held in January in Istanbul.