Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    MOSCOW, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United States has assured Russia that it does not have plans for war against Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday.

    "The United States has made it clear that it does not have plans for war against Iran," Lavrov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    Lavrov, who wrapped up his visit to the United States on Saturday, said he was told in meetings in Washington that the presence of additional forces in the Gulf region is aimed at stabilizing the situation.

    "On Iran, we have absolute agreement on the ultimate goal-the prevention of the nonproliferation regime," he said.

    Russia and the United States agreed to continue to work in the UN Security Council on the Iranian nuclear issue, combining measures of diplomatic influence to urge Iran to return to the negotiating table, Lavrov said.

Related: Pentagon says U.S. not planning war with Iran

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that the United States has no plan to go to war with Iran, but is determined to stop Iran's involvement in Iraq.