IranÂ’s nuclear program must be transparent

“We are sharing our partners' concern about making all Iranian programs transparent,” Mr. Putin said at a news conference after talks with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy. “We agreed, and Mr. President confirmed it, that Iran is making certain steps toward international community to achieve that.”

Mr. Putin is to make his first visit to Iran for a summit of Caspian Sea nations.

Mr. Sarkozy said Mr. Putin's trip to Tehran could encourage Iran to be more co-operative. “After the trip, there could be a will to co-operate — that is essential,” he said.

Russia has opposed the U.S.-push for tougher sanctions against Iran and called for more checks and inspections of Iranian facilities by an international nuclear watchdog.

“We have worked cooperatively with our partners at the United Nations Security Council, and we intend to continue such co-operative work in the future,” Mr. Putin said.

But he said with no “objective data” showing Iran is developing nuclear weapons, “we proceed from an assumption that Iran has no such plans.”

Mr. Sarkozy has hardened France's stance on Iran in recent months, shifting closer to the United States in his insistence on tough U.N. Security Council sanctions and even his mention of the possibility of war. While the U.S. and European nations are pressing for greater sanctions, Russia and China have resisted,