Russia pressures Iran on 'grey areas'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday called upon Iran to use the Istanbul talks with six world powers later this month to clear up "grey areas" about its contested nuclear program.

In Istanbul, delegates must agree a talks agenda that is "all-inclusive" and covers "the questions of eliminating grey areas in the Iranian nuclear program," Lavrov said, according to AFP.

Iran will meet Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany for the talks on January 21-22. The six powers have all insisted that the talks must focus on Iran's nuclear program, a condition Iran's government has utterly rejected.

"China hopes the talks can help all parties build mutual trust and consensus. China also hopes positive progress can be made at the talks," Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign min-istry said Thursday.

Lavrov also criticized Iran for failing to "cooperate as it should with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," but also slammed as counterproductive calls to use the threat of force against Iran.

"No problem can be solved by force," Lavrov said, according to AFP.

He said Iran's invitation to nuclear experts from some IAEA countries to tour its nuclear installations this month "deserved attention," but stressed that this would not happen in replacement of official IAEA inspections.

Agencies