Russian and Iranian officials agreed to continue the
negotiations on Moscow's uranium enrichment proposal on Monday
after wrapping up a day of talks, but they did not announce a firm
date for further discussion.
"The talks with the Iranian delegation in the Kremlin has
concluded ... An agreement was reached to continue the talks," the
press service of the Russian Security Council was quoted by the
Interfax news agency as saying.
Monday's talks were held behind closed doors and led by the
deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, Valentin Sobolev,
and the deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security
Council, Ali Hosseinitash. After the talks, Russian Security
Council Secretary Igor Ivanov met the Iranian officials.
The Russian Security Council gave no indication of when or where
the talks would resume. But the Foreign Ministry said talks may be
continued on Tuesday in Moscow. The Iranian delegation is
reportedly to head home on Tuesday.
The talks focused on the Russian proposal to shift Iran's
uranium enrichment activities to Russian territory. Western
countries have backed Moscow's compromise plan, saying it could
help allay concerns over Iran potentially producing weapons-grade
nuclear material.
Uranium enriched at low levels can fuel nuclear reactors, but if
highly enriched it can be used for nuclear bombs.
The Russian plan is seen as a crucial attempt to resolve the
dispute over Iran's nuclear program before a March 6 meeting of the
UN nuclear watchdog, which reports say could start a process
leading to UN punishment against Iran.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the talks that
the discussion with Iran could allow the nuclear issue to stay
within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"Chances remain for keeping the situation within the framework
of the IAEA," Lavrov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as
saying. "It is too early to speak about the results yet," as the
negotiations are continuing, he added.
Lavrov urged Iran to resume the moratorium on uranium enrichment
on its soil.
Before the talks started, Lavrov expressed cautious optimism,
saying Russia has "reserved expectations" over the
negotiations.
But Russia "will be making every effort to prevent the situation
from deteriorating and from stepping on a track leading to the use
of force," he said.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, on a visit
to Brussels to meet senior European Union officials, offered new
hope for progress on the impasse by saying his country would
consider Russia's proposal.
"In the Russian proposal, some main elements should be
considered as well as participants to the project, (such as) place
or places of enrichment, period of implementation of this project,"
Mottaki told a press conference on Monday.
But he insisted that Iran should be allowed to continue its
nuclear research and development activities.
(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2006)
