Putin defying death threats to attend conference
Russia's President Putin insisted his planned trip to Iran would go ahead today despite reports of a possible assassination attempt.
"Of course I am going to Iran," he said. "If I always listened to all the various threats and the recommendations of the special services I would never leave home."
Russian security services said yesterday that suicide terrorists were to carry out the attack.
Mr Putin said the trip was a chance to support direct dealings with Iran, which has no diplomatic relations with the US, and gave the example of North Korea, which recently agreed to take its nuclear reactor out of service, to show what could be achieved by diplomacy.
"We were patient and consistently looked for solutions and it looks like we are finding them. The same has to be applied, we believe, in the case of the Iranian nuclear program," he said.
"We can and must be patient and look for a way out. Can we do it without having a dialogue with the Iranian leadership and people? I think it's impossible, unlikely."
Mr Putin stressed that Russia planned to work with Europe and the US, which are also stressing diplomacy and negotiation in their approach despite recurring speculation about a potential US strike against Iran.
Washington is pushing for a third, tougher round of sanctions against Tehran for refusing to give up its program to enrich uranium.
Mr Putin's trip will be studied for changes in Russia's complex position on Iran.
Russia has been against more sanctions in the United Nations Security Council and is building Iran's first nuclear reactor.
But Moscow has delayed completion and urged Tehran to comply with international controls on its program. An announcement by Mr Putin during his visit that it would be finished quickly would be seen as a gesture toward the Iranians.
His remarks came at the end of summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
