"Jointly with NATO states, we will closely watch the development of various programs by other countries. We are not indifferent to... what the planet's nuclear potential looks like," Medvedev told journalists on Saturday after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Lisbon.

Regarding Iran, the Russian leader said the Islamic Republic has the right to civilian nuclear power but added that the country should prove to others that its program is peaceful and that it is ready to cooperate with international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The West suspects Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, but Tehran says it needs nuclear power solely for civilian purposes.

Iran is currently under four sets of UN sanctions over its nuclear program.