Text of report by Russian news agency Interfax

Moscow, 6 December: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Iranian nuclear issue should be settled within the framework of the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency].

"We believe that the capabilities of the IAEA in resolving all the problems of the Iranian nuclear dossier have by no means been exhausted," Putin said in the Kremlin on Tuesday [6 December] after his talks with the Indian prime minister.

He said he hoped that "our Iranian partners will comply with all the obligations they have taken upon themselves, including those taken unilaterally".

[ITAR-TASS news agency, in Russian, 1240 gmt 6 Dec 05, quoted Putin as saying: "Russia will contribute in every way to the development of the negotiating process (on the Iranian nuclear dossier) with all the countries involved in this dialogue."

Putin said he had discussed the issue with the Indian prime minister, ITAR-TASS added]