MESEBERG, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - International agreements on UN sanctions against Iran exist, although nobody wants their introduction, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.
"Nobody wants the sanctions," Medvedev said at a press conference during his two-day visit to Germany. "But in some cases, it is necessary to agree on them."
"The situation is such that in practical terms, agreements on these sanctions exist," he added.
"We hope that Iran's leadership will listen to the voice of the international community," he went on, describing Iran's stance as "irresponsible behavior."
"It is necessary to talk with partners within the international community, and that is the only way to solve the most difficult issues," the president said.
Medvedev noted that Moscow's position on the Iran nuclear issue had moved closer to that of its Western partners.
"I think that this is very important for the future of the international community and... for the future of our relations with European and other countries - with the United States and China," he said.
"We solve extremely difficult problems in the framework of the G8, but we should also be united on other issues, such as controversial nuclear programs," he said.
Medvedev stressed that decisions on introducing any sanctions should be made on the basis of international consensus, rather than "personal ambitions" of this or that country.
"Either we are united or our paths start to diverge," the president said.
International pressure on Iran increased in early February when Tehran announced it had begun enriching uranium to 20% in lieu of an agreement on an exchange that would provide it with fuel for a research reactor.
The Iranian, Brazilian, and Turkish foreign ministers agreed on May 17 that Iran will swap in Turkey most of its 3.5%-enriched uranium for 120 kg of 20%-enriched fuel for use in its Tehran scientific research reactor.
The deal did not halt discussions by the Iran Six on a draft Security Council resolution to expand sanctions against Iran.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that Tehran had not halted its uranium enrichment activities and that questions also remained over Tehran's implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
