Russia supports Iran's nuclear program

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Moscow supports Iran’s nuclear program so long as it is for peaceful means saying that they have always supported the right of the Iranian people to modern technologies.               

On the sidelines of the regional security summit in Beijing, Putin told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that their support is conditioned on the peaceful use of atomic energy.               

The West believes Iran is trying to develop an atomic bomb under the guise of a civilian program but Tehran insists its intentions are purely peaceful.     

The talks between the two leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit -- the first since Putin’s return to the Kremlin for a third term -- came as Russia prepares to host the latest round of global talks on Iran.             

The June 18 and 19 meeting between world powers and Iranian negotiators will try to find a diplomatic solution to the current standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.             

Putin's comments also come after leaders of the SCO's member states issued a statement Thursday opposing any use of force in Iran, saying it could threaten global security.