President Dmitry Medvedev pledged on Tuesday that Russia would do everything in its power to persuade Iran and North Korea to return to talks on their nuclear programs.
“We will do all we can…for a continuation of dialog,” Medvedev said at a nuclear security summit in Seoul. “We will hope that sooner or later they will return to the negotiating table.”
But Medvedev also said that he was “unsure” that Iran and North Korea were ready to “take part in discussions.”
Russia is involved in negotiations with both Iran and North Korea on their nuclear programs.
Western powers and Israel have not ruled out an attack to halt what they believe is a drive by Iran to produce atomic weapons.
The Islamic Republic says its program is designed for the production of peaceful civilian energy.
Following contact talks with world powers in February, North Korea said it would suspend its nuclear activities and halt work at Yongbyon, believed by analysts to be its main facility. It also said it was placing a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests.
But world leaders, including Medvedev, condemned North Korea’s announcement on Tuesday that it would launch a satellite into orbit to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim il-Sung.
