Russia stands ready to help Iran if it is interested in a Moscow
proposal for creating a joint venture to enrich its uranium on
Russian territory, a senior Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.
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"Our proposal remains in force. If Iranian colleagues are
interested, we are ready to help," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei
Kislyak was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
Moscow's proposal can "help Iran allay all concerns over its
nuclear program," Kislyak said.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Monday that
Tehran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of its
decision to resume full-scale uranium enrichment after the UN
nuclear watchdog voted to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the
UN Security Council.
But Itar-Tass quoted Iran's government spokesman, Gholamhossein
Elham, as saying in Tehran Monday that Iran welcomes contact on any
proposal in the nuclear area that would serve its national
interests and that the talks with Russia may continue.
Russia is hoping to hold consultations with Iran on Feb. 16 over
the proposal, Kislyak said, adding the parties will discuss not
only the nuclear dossier in Moscow, but "the whole range of
relations with Iran."
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2006)
