Russia Says No Evidence Iran Working On Nuclear Arms

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) gestures as he speaks with his Iranian counterpart Mahmud Ahmadinejad (left) during a meeting in Beijing in June 2012.

A senior Russian official says Moscow has seen no evidence indicating that Iran is working on a nuclear weapon.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on September 6 that Iran has been working to produce nuclear material under the control of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, and there is no indication that this material has been directed toward military purposes.

Ryabkov warned Israel and what he described as "other nations" not to attack Iran over its nuclear program, saying the use of force would be disastrous for the Middle East.

The Russian minister's comments follow a recent flurry of reports speculating about a possible Israeli attack targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

The Islamic republic has repeatedly denied allegations from Israel, its ally the United States and other Western countries that it seeks to make an atomic bomb.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax