Russia, Western powers closer on Iran sanctions: Russian lawmaker

Russia and Western powers have moved closer to agreement on the need for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, a leading Russian lawmaker said on Thursday.       

Kremlin ally Konstantin Kosachyov's remarks were the strongest recent sign from Moscow that Russia could support a new round of sanctions in the United Nations Security Council, where it has veto power.                                           

"As regards a tougher conversation with Iran, the application of some additional sanctions of an economic character, on this question mutual understanding between Russia and its partners in the international arena has clearly increased," he said.

Kosachyov, head of the international affairs committee in Russia's lower house of parliament, expressed concern over Iran's latest rocket test and its defiance of international demands it stop uranium enrichment.

"The situation is beginning to alarm us more and more," he told state-owned Vesti-24 television in an interview.