Iran to review relations with IAEA

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of the Iranian Parliament's powerful National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said lawmakers would quickly "begin a revision of Iran's relations" with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He did not say what options would be discussed. But one possibility is Iran could restrict IAEA inspectors' access to nuclear facilities - making the country's nuclear program even more opaque.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said imposing new sanctions "is not constructive, and will destroy the grounds for solving the current crisis" with the West.

The new sanctions do not affect oil exports, the lifeblood of Iran's economy, because targeting them would have cost the US essential support from veto-wielding Security Council members Russia and China. Both have strong economic ties with Tehran and the Russians and Chinese also nixed any ban on gasoline imports.

Russia said Thursday that the new sanctions do not forbid the delivery of S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran. Israel and the US have urged Russia not to supply the missile systems, which would substantially increase Iran's defense capability. Russia agreed to sell the missiles in 2007, but has not yet delivered them.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told journalists that the UN resolution does not apply to air-defense systems, with the exception of shoulder-fired missiles; Kazinform cites The Arab News.

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