Russia says Iran rocket raises nuclear suspicion - Ifx

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday Iran's test launch of a rocket raised suspicions about the real nature of Tehran's atomic programme, in what could signal a hardening of its stance towards the Islamic Republic

Iran launched a rocket on Monday designed to carry its first locally-made research satellite next year, showing the country's advances in ballistics at a time when Western powers are already wary it may be developing a nuclear weapon.

"Any movement in terms of creating such a potential weapon naturally worries us and others," Interfax news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov as telling reporters.

"All the more so since it creates suspicion towards Iran about its possible desire to create a nuclear weapon," he said. "Rockets of such range are one of the components of such a weapons system. Of course this raises concern."

Russia has previously said there is no evidence Tehran is trying to make nuclear weapons. It has watered down Western attempts to impose punitive sanctions and is supplying uranium fuel to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power station.

The unusually forthright comments on the rocket launch may indicate a hardening of Russia's stance.

The United States, the Islamic Republic's arch foe, called the rocket test "unfortunate" and said it would only further isolate Tehran from the international community.

The West fears Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, is trying to master nuclear technology so it can build nuclear bombs.