Iran, Russia discuss nuclear issues

Iran has sent a senior official to Moscow to meet Russian officials over the recent US drone disputes as well as the nuclear issue, local Tehran Times daily reported Monday. Saeed Jalili, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has travelled to Moscow to discuss the recent violation of Iran's airspace by a US spy drone, the daily said. Iranian media reported last week that the Iranian military downed a RQ-170 US reconnaissance drone aircraft in the eastern part of the country after finding that it had transgressed the eastern border. The state TV showed on Thursday the footage of the US drone. Iran has urged the United Nations to condemn the US drone's violation of the Iranian airspace, saying that Tehran would seek " clear and effective measures" to end such "dangerous and unlawful acts." Jalili, who is Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, will also discuss the nuclear issue with Russian officials, said Tehran Times. The West believes that Iran's nuclear programme aims to produce nuclear weapons, while the Islamic republic insists that the program is for "civilian" purposes. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Friday that Moscow sees no military component in Iran's nuclear programme and calls for further dialogues on the issue.