Russian President Valdimir Putin has told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran has a right to develop a nuclear program as long as it does not threaten other nations. The two leaders met in Shanghai on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit

Vladimir Putin, right, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Shanghai, June 15, 2006

Before his meeting with the Iranian leader, Vladimir Putin stressed Russia's support for Tehran.

Putin said all countries in the world, including Iran, have a right to use the achievements of modern technology. But, he said, Iran has to remove the concerns of the international community and ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapon technology.

The Russian leader says Iran has reacted positively to a package of incentives the United States and some European nations have offered in exchange for a freeze of its uranium enrichment. He said Iran is ready to begin talks in the near future.

Russia, along with China, has opposed sanctions threatened by the United States and some European nations if Iran does not halt enrichment.

Iran says it wants to enrich uranium for electricity, but Western nations believe it wants to make bombs.