RUSSIA SAYS ISRAEL NOT PLANNING A STRIKE ON IRAN

       President Dmitry Medvedev said Israel had given Russia assurances it plans no strike on Iran and reserved Moscow's right to sell Tehran arms, in an interveiw released by the Kremlin on Sunday.
       Medvedev described an Israeli attack as "the worst thing that could be imagined" but said President Shimon Peres had ruled out such fears when the two leaders met in the Russian resort of Sochi in August.
       "When Israeli President Peres was visiting me in Sochi recently, he said something very important for all of us: 'Israel does not plan any strikes on Iran, we are a peaceful country and we will not do this," he said.
       In the interview with CNN, Medvedev sidestepped questions on Russia's possible response in the case of Israeli air strikes although he hinted Moscow could take sides under such a scenario.
       "What will happen after that? Humanitarian disaster, vast numbers of refugees, Iran's wish to take revenge not only on Israel but upon other countries as well," he said.
       Though Russia has no alliances with Iran, "It does not mean that we would like to be or will be indifferent to such a development," Medvedev said.
       "But my Israeli colleagues told me that they were not planning to act in this way," he reiterated.
       Iran is due to hold talks withy six world powers on October 1, the outcome of which could determine whether the United States and its allies impose more penalties on Tehran over suspicions it is working on an atomic bomb.
       The United States is pressuring Russia to shift its current stance and back tougher sanctions, reportedly banking on its warming ties with Moscow since President Barck Obama shelved a controversial missile shield plans in cental Europe.
       While Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, Washington and Jerusalem have also never ruled out the option of air strikes to destroy the Islamic state's nuclear facilities.
       Ahead of the Iran talks, Medvedev confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to Moscow this month to meet with him.