Russia, Iran begin nuclear talks in Tehran
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-07 19:37

Russia and Iran began talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme on Saturday, said an Iranian official who gave no indication that Iran would satisfy EU demands and let Moscow produce its atomic fuel.

Britain, Germany and France have urged Tehran to let Russia enrich the uranium mined in Iran to ensure it is processed only into the low-grade fuel needed for power stations.

The United States accuses Iran of planning to enrich the uranium to the higher grade needed for atomic warheads. Iran denies the charge.

"The Russian delegation arrived in Tehran last night and began talks with Iranian officials this morning," Hossein Entezami, spokesman of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), was quoted as saying by state television.

"The two sides are going to discuss Russia's proposal for joint uranium enrichment, the scale of this, and also enrichment on Iranian soil," he added.

Russia is a key nuclear ally of Iran, and is helping it build a nuclear power station at the Gulf port of Bushehr.

Javad Vaeedi, the deputy head of the SNSC, said late last year that agreeing to talks with Russia did not mean Iran had abandoned its drive to enrich uranium on its own soil.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday Iran would start research work on nuclear fuel next week despite warnings from the West this could endanger efforts to secure a diplomatic solution to the nuclear dispute.

Iran faces referral to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions if the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency votes to report Tehran at its next meeting.

The next scheduled IAEA board meeting is on March 6, but an emergency session could be called before then.

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