Russian seemed to be zig-zagging on Iran on Tuesday, slamming new EU sanctions despite having accused Teheran of "fruitless and irresponsible rhetoric" the previous day.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that new EU sanctions against Iran show scorn for the United Nations and the so-called "sextet" working to resolve disputes over Iran's nuclear program.
The move "not only undermines our joint strength in the search for a political-diplomatic resolution of the situation around Iran's nuclear program but demonstrates scorn for the carefully developed and agreed-upon position of the UN Security Council resolution," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.
On Monday, however, Moscow had added its voice to a diplomatic assault which included unilateral sanctions from both the EU and Canada, as well as warnings from Iran's opposition party that Ahmadinejad's regime could suffer the same fate as the deposed Shah.
The Monday remarks came after criticism from Teheran over Moscow's support for UN sanctions last month.
In the past, Iran had depended on allies Russia and China — and their veto power at the Security Council — to block tough penalties, but Russia sided with the US and its allies and endorsed the sanctions, levied in a bid to force Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry suggested "Iran's leaders take concrete and constructive steps to work the situation out."