October 16, 2007 (LPAC)--Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged that the so-called North Korean recipe should be used to settle Iran's nuclear problem, Russia's state radio RUVR reported this morning.

The Russian leader set forth his position on the issue just hours before meeting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The United States and France, now joined by Germany, are pressing for toughening the sanctions against Iran, and they threaten that unless the UN Security Council adopts a resolution to that end, they could impose another package of sanctions on a bilateral or regional level. Russia and China conversely feel that the toughening of sanctions is untimely and inefficient and are pressing for the continuation of the political dialog with Tehran. Following the discussion of Iran's problem with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Vladimir Putin said that Iran should be dealt with similarly to North Korea.

North Korea, of course, had not only enriched uranium, but it had actually tested a nuclear device. Nonetheless the international community has succeeded in persuading Pyongyang to wrap up its nuclear program and to demobilize its basic nuclear facilities, in exchange for assistance in the energy field.

The U.S. threats to use armed force against North Korea have proved futile, and such threats would hardly prove efficient with regard to Iran either, said Putin. Trying to frighten the Iranian leaders, Putin added, is a waste of time. "They are not afraid, believe me. What should be done is to arm oneself with patience and search for a settlement. But this is hardly possible without a dialog with the people of Iran and Iran's leadership. If we do have a chance to maintain direct contact, we shall do it in a bid to achieve a positive collaborative--let me stress it-- collaborative result."

When in Tehran, Putin will brief the Iranian leaders on his views and is expected to make it clear that it is in the interests of Iran to allay the international community's concerns about Tehran's nuclear efforts, and to make its nuclear program transparent.