MOSCOW – President Dmitri Medvedev said Russia might back sanctions against Iran if the Iranians did not take a "constructive position" on an international plan to limit their stockpile of enriched uranium.

The statement, made in an interview with Der Spiegel, the German news magazine, and released by the Kremlin, resembles one Medvedev made in September after meeting with President Barack Obama in New York. But it takes on added significance because Iran has signaled that it will not carry through on the agreement.

The deal would require Iran to ship its low-enriched uranium out of the country for processing, easing fears that the fuel would be used for nuclear bombs.

"We would not want this to end in imposing sanctions under international law, because sanctions, as a rule, are a complex and dangerous path," Medvedev said. "But if there is no forward movement, no one can rule out this scenario."

Russia has traditionally opposed sanctions against Iran, which it considers an important regional ally.

Medvedev also told the news magazine that Russia and the United States have a good chance of reaching a new nuclear arms reduction deal before year's end, but that other nuclear powers must join disarmament efforts.

From wire reports

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