Russia 'worried' at Iran nuclear enrichment plant: agency

MOSCOW - The Associated Press

This satellite image available to AFP on September 26, 2009 by Digitalglobe shows a suspected facility outside Qom, Iran, where Iran is has begun enriching uranium to 20 per cent, according to the UN atomic watchdog agency IAEA. AFP photo

The Russian Foreign Ministry is expressing regret and concern about the launch of an underground uranium enrichment facility in Iran, but has urged all parties to avoid hasty moves.

The ministry said in a Tuesday statement that the launch of the facility near Iran's holy city of Qom demonstrated that Tehran was continuing to ignore international concerns about its nuclear program.

It added, however, that Iran had notified the International Atomic Energy Agency in due time of the launch of the bunker facility.

The ministry says Russia was urging all parties involved in the Iranian nuclear standoff to avoid "ill-considered and abrupt moves," which could undermine prospects for talks with Iran.