Russia should be objective but firm in the Iranian nuclear issue, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the upper house of parliament Mikhail Margelov said on Friday upon his return from Tehran.

"Iran is not inclined to tough confrontation with the world," Margelov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. "A peaceful atomic program within the IAEA framework is the rule all countries are playing by."

"Our interlocutors asked Russia to support them at the UN Security Council.... First and foremost, Russia protects its own national interests and will be guided by them while making a decision," Margelov said.

"The position should be very objective and rather firm," said Deputy Chairman of the committee Vasily Likhachyov.

"A firm position does not mean that Russia wants to limit energy sovereignty of Tehran, but we care for international security and must not weaken the interaction with other Security Council members," he said.

The UN Security Council adopted resolution 1737 imposing sanctions on Iran on Dec. 23, 2006, giving the country 60 days to comply with the IAEA demands.

IAEA chief ElBaradei sent his report to the nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors and the UN Security Council on Thursday, confirming that Iran had refused to suspend its uranium enrichment activities as demanded by the council.

Representatives from the United States, France, Russia, China, Britain and Germany are set to hold a meeting in London on Monday to determine the way forward in the face of Iran's refusal to comply with UN demands.

Source: Xinhua