Moscow "expects Iran to allay all concerns before the council of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets on June 16," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The call came after a BBC report said Russia was to stop exporting nuclear material to Iran following Tehran's refusal to sign up to an international protocol.

President Vladimir Putin told other leaders at the Group of Eightsummit in Evian, France that Russia would halt "all nuclear exports" until Iran signed up to tougher nuclear inspections, a senior British official told BBC Online.

The Russian official did not say what measures Russia might take if Iran did not allay its concerns before the meeting of the UN's nuclear watchdog.

The IAEA board of governors is to meet at its headquarters in Vienna on June 16-17 when its chief Mohamed ElBaradei will report on Iran's nuclear activities.

IAEA inspectors have been visiting nuclear sites that Washington has said may be hiding a nuclear weapons programme.

G8 leaders meetign here warned Iran to conform to international protocols on nuclear weapons.

WAR.WIRE