Iran welcomes Russian N-plan

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January 25, 2006 19:26 IST

Iran today indicated its readiness to accept a proposal to get the uranium for its nuclear power programme enriched in Russia after some "fine tuning" but threatened to launch industrial enrichment if its nuclear dossier is referred to the UN Security Council.

"If the Board of Governors decides to pressure the IAEA politically in order to refer our dossier to the UN Security Council it will make a move that will have a negative impact on peace and security in the region," Secretary of Iran's National Security Council Ali Larijani told reporters here after holding talks with Russian officials on the ongoing standoff of Tehran nuclear programme.

Iran warns against UN referral

"In this case, our activities will not be limited to research and we'll begin industrial enrichment of uranium," the Iran's top nuclear negotiatior said.

Larijani, who earlier had talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei lavrov and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov, welcomed Moscow's proposal to set up a joint venture on the Russian soil for uranium enrichment for producing nuclear fuel for Iran. He, however, called for "fine-tuning" of the project.

India upset by Iran's comments

"The question was discussed at the talks. Our attitude to the proposal is positive. We tried to bring the positions of the two sides closer. The plan can be fine-tuned at the talks due in February, " Interfax quoted Larijani as saying.

He denied that Tehran has been insisting on Chinese participation in the Russian project saying "We welcome the participation of other countries in this respect, but there was no proposal related to China."

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