Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said yesterday that
a Russian proposal over its uranium enrichment program was
insufficient to meet Iran's needs but not negative.
"The Russian proposal fails to meet our nuclear energy needs,
but we cannot say it is a negative one, so we are considering
further negotiations with the Russians," Larijani was quoted by the
official IRNA News Agency as saying.
Larijani made the comments upon his arrival in Tehran back from
China after a two-day visit, during which he held talks with
Chinese officials on the latest developments of the Iranian nuclear
issue and reiterated that Iran was still engaged in diplomatic
efforts to solve the issue.
"We think Larijani has showed some degree of flexibility during
his stay in Beijing, and he has voiced the Islamic Republic's
readiness to seek a solution acceptable to all concerned parties
through negotiations," a diplomatic source told Xinhua.
Previously, Larijani made a diplomatic trip to Russia on Tuesday
and Wednesday, which Iran defined as "a usual exchange of visits"
but was widely viewed as aimed at seeking Moscow's support on the
nuclear issue.
Iran is currently under mounting pressure of the EU to halt its
nuclear fuel research work which it resumed on January 10 after a
two-and-half-a-year suspension.
The EU is also pressing Tehran on the Russian proposal, which
Moscow revealed in December 2005 and suggested a joint venture in
Russia to enrich uranium for Iran.
Iran, terming the Russian proposal as inadequate, has said it
welcomes Russia to participate in its enrichment program but will
never accept uranium enrichment outside its own territory.
Based on the US' accusation that Iran is developing nuclear
weapons secretly, the EU insists that Iran's full mastery of
uranium enrichment technology would possibly lead to military
usage.
In response to Tehran's defiant resumption of nuclear research
work, the EU trio of Britain, France and Germany has called for an
emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA)'s board of governors on February 2-3 to vote for referring
the Iranian nuclear file to the UN Security Council.
Iran has said that it will never give up its legitimate rights
even before the UN Security Council, warning that it would resume
uranium enrichment at the industrial production level if the case
was submitted.
Iran rejects the US charge as politically motivated and says its
nuclear research is completely peaceful.
US says Iran playing games with international
community
The US said yesterday that Iran is playing games with the
international community by not accepting a Russian proposal on
Iran's nuclear issue.
"They appear to be playing more games with the international
community," White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said at a
briefing.
"This is a regime that continues to defy the international
community and fail to comply with its obligations," McClellan said,
adding that the US is still discussing with its partners and others
about the best way to send a clear message to Iran.
US President George W. Bush said on Thursday that he backed the
Russian proposal and said Iran could have a civilian nuclear
program but with preconditions.
The preconditions were that the material used to power the plant
would be manufactured in Russia, delivered under the IAEA
inspectors and the waste of which would be picked up by the
Russians and returned to Russia, Bush said.
"I think that is a good plan. The Russians came up with the idea
and I support it," Bush said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2006)
