Iran says it has basic atomic agreement with Russia

BUSHEHR, Iran (Reuters) – Iran has reached a “basic”
agreement with Russia on a joint venture to enrich uranium and
will contine talks in coming days, Iran’s nuclear chief
Gholamreza Aghazadeh said on Sunday.

It was unclear what this basic agreement involved. The
original Russian proposal had been for Iran’s uranium to be
enriched in Russia, allaying Western fears that the atomic fuel
could be diverted into a weapons program.

However, Iran has always insisted upon its right to enrich
its own uranium on its own soil and it is unclear how the
original Russian proposal could be tailored to please Tehran.

“Regarding this joint venture, we have reached a basic
agreement. Talks to complete this package will continue in
coming days in Russia,” Aghazadeh told reporters in the
southern Iranian port of Bushehr.

He said there were still obstacles to a full agreement.

“There are different parts that need to be discussed. These
are not just related to forming a company, there are other
elements. There are political issues and the proposal should be
seen as a package,” he said.

“We have set a precondition,” he added, but would not give
further details.

Iran has been reported to the UN Security Council for
possible sanctions after failing to convince the world that its
nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful. Tehran flatly denies
seeking nuclear arms.