Russia rules out backing Iran sanctions despite UN findings

Russia on Wednesday ruled out backing new sanctions against Iran and held urgent consultations with its ally after the publication of the most damning report to date from the UN nuclear watchdog.Moscows attempt to relieve its close trade partners growing diplomatic isolation came one day after the IAEA agency went ahead with the publication of an unprecedented report on Iran that both China and Russia reportedly wanted to suppress.The UN agency disclosed finding credible intelligence showing the Islamic states interest in nuclear weapons -- the first time it has so openly supported claims initially raised by Israel and the United States.The report saw France and Britain join a US call for much stronger punishments and drew another stark warning from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Russia had previously condemned the findings publication as an effort by the West to justify potential military action. But it has also carefully avoided saying anything about the contents of the massive document directly.The foreign ministry said on Tuesday it would take time going through its details before issuing a formal conclusion on whether the data collected by UN nuclear programme inspectors was persuasive.But Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov made clear that Moscow would resist the tougher sanctions no matter what the UN report said.Any additional sanctions against Iran will be interpreted by the international community as a means of changing the regime in Tehran, Gatilov told Interfax.This approach is unacceptable to us, and Russia does not intend to review this proposal, he said without specifying whether Moscow would actually veto further sanctions.