Russia links its help on Iran to Georgia row

By Conor Sweeney

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Western nations will have to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions without Russia's help if they refuse to cooperate with Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Russia's invasion of Georgia has raised tension with the West, which like Moscow does not want Iran to use its nuclear programme to build an atomic bomb. Tehran says its atomic work is only to make electricity.

Asked in an interview with CNN if the Georgia row could hurt U.S.-Russian cooperation on Iran, Putin said: "If nobody wants to talk with us on these issues and cooperation with Russia is not needed, then for God's sake, do it yourself."

A transcript of the interview was posted on Putin's official Internet site www.government.ru.

Putin, who served two terms as president before stepping down in May, made clear that ending cooperation was not his preferred option, saying Russia and the United States had a common interest in resolving the Iran issue.

Russia, one of five veto-holding nations on the United Nations Security Council, has backed three previous sanctions measures against Iran to try to curb Tehran's nuclear drive.

CONSCIENTIOUS WORK

According to the transcript, Putin said in the interview Russia had been working "consistently and conscientiously" with its partners on Iran.