Washington appears particularly worried about a proposal to sell a centrifuge capable of producing highly enriched uranium that could be used in weapons, however, it has sold a similar system to South Korea, claiming it is purely peaceful. Georgy Kaurov, a Russian Atomic Energy Ministry spokesman, said that Iran was not violating international pledges or making nuclear weapons and pointed out that this has repeatedly been attested to by the IAEA that visits the sight four times a year. He added that the embargo would have no influence on Russia, nor does Russia has any need to question Iran's position. He added that Washington was trying to gain influence in the Persian Gulf region. Israel yesterday affirmed that it must do everything in its power to prevent Iran from obtaining long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.
Analysts speculate that Iran is at least seven years away from acquiring nuclear weaponry.
Meanwhile, the United States is brushing off allied opposition to its trade embargo on Iran.