MOSCOW - Russia on Friday cautioned world powers against rushing towards sanctions to punish Iran for spurning a UN-brokered proposal to send its uranium abroad for processing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Tehran to work constructively to allay Western fears over its nuclear programme but said world powers should take a sober approach and beware of pushing Iran into a corner. "If our logic is to punish Iran, or if we take up the posture of the offended ... this will not be a sober approach," Lavrov told reporters at a news briefing. "It is not a simple situation and it is not made any easier by the domestic political situation in Iran," said Lavrov, who added that world powers should not risk undermining the work of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. "We must not take any steps that could open up risks to the work of the agency in this country," he said. Russia, which presents itself as the only major power with real clout in Tehran, is a crucial player in any move towards sanctions as it is a veto-wielding permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Russia has watered down previous drives for sanctions against Iran, though the Kremlin was deeply troubled last year by Iran's disclosure about a secret nuclear facility in the holy Shi'ite city of Qom. Lavrov said Moscow wanted "to see constructive actions from Iran" and made clear Russia was unhappy with Tehran's dismissal of the UN-brokered proposal to send uranium to France and Russia for enrichment.
