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Iran says it has basic atomic agreement with Russia

Posted on: Sunday, 26 February 2006, 08:00 CST

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.

Source: REUTERS

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