RUSSIA'S SECURITY COUNCIL CHIEF, IGOR IVANOV, SAID SUNDAY THAT RUSSIA IS OPPOSED TO ANY USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAN OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, IRAN'S STATE-RUN TELEVISION REPORTED. "UNLIKE THE U.S., RUSSIA BELIEVES IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED ONLY THROUGH DIALOGUE. ANY USE OF FORCE WILL FURTHER COMPLICATE THE ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE TENSION IN THE REGION,» IVANOV WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE TELEVISION. IVANOV MADE THE COMMENTS DURING A MEETING WITH IRAN'S TOP NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR ALI LARIJANI. THE HEAD OF RUSSIA'S SECURITY COUNCIL ARRIVED IN TEHRAN LATE SATURDAY TO DISCUSS THE STANDOFF OVER IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM. HIS VISIT CAME AHEAD OF A MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM SIX WORLD POWERS SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK TO DECIDE ON A PACKAGE OF INCENTIVES FOR IRAN TO STOP ENRICHING URANIUM.
