Iran's top nuclear negotiator welcomes Russian offer
Iran’s top nuclear negotiator said today that Tehran saw Moscow’s offer to have Iran’s uranium enriched in Russia as a positive development but no agreement has been reached.
Chief negotiator Ali Larijani also reiterated Iran’s threat to renew enrichment activities if it is referred to the United Nations Security Council.
After taks with Russian Security Council chief Igor Ivanov, which included discussion of the plan to enrich uranium in Russia, Larijani told a news conference: “Our view of this offer is positive, and we are trying to bring the positions of the sides closer.”
“This plan can be perfected in the future, during further talks that will be held in February,” he said, speaking through a translator.
Larijani suggested that it would take some time to work out details of Russia’s proposal.
Some critics allege that the Iranians are using the proposal to stall for time as diplomatic pressure on Tehran mounts over its alleged nuclear weapons programme.
“There are lots of details surrounding this offer that must be examined,” Larijani said.
