VARIOUS: Iran and Russia fail to agree on a compromise to break the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear programme

Record ID: 315363

  • Title: VARIOUS: Iran and Russia fail to agree on a compromise to break the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear programme
  • Date: 1st March 2006
  • Summary: (BN4) TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 1,2006) (REUTERS) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI ARRIVING AT TOKYO HOTEL AUDITORIUM MOTTAKI SHAKING HANDS WITH JAPANESE ORGANISERS AND TAKING SEAT CLOSE UP OF STILL PHOTOGRAPHERS MOTTAKI WALKING UP TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI SAYING: "Within 20 to 25 years, there will be a few countries in Middle East who can supply and export oil for Asia." WIDE SHOT OF AUDITORIUM
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA4P7AKW1OGYZP7CAIHJEQSSU40
  • Story Text: Iran and Russia failed to agree on a compromise to break the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear programme on Wednesday (March 1, 2006) as the Islamic Republic's president sought support in Muslim Malaysia.
    Iranian officials, headed by top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, arrived at a hotel in central Moscow and held a third round of talks on Moscow's proposal to carry out uranium enrichment for Iran on Russian soil.
    Larijani's presence, matched by that of Russian Security Council chief Igor Ivanov, put the latest round on a higher footing and raised hopes Iran was taking the Russian proposal seriously, something the West at times has doubted.
    Larijani, on arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, repeated his position that even if Tehran agrees to a deal with Moscow, it still sees no need to stop work on enrichment.
    "We of course agree to inspections - IAEA and international inspections," Larijani told reporters on arrival. "I think you shouldn't threaten those those countries who accept these laws and agree to keep within the framework of these laws. There were threats before. They did not work. Of course we must find a formula to find a solution."
    That contradicted a statement by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made today in Budapest which Iran should return to moratorium it suspended a month ago.
    "Iran should restore the moratorium on the enrichment related activities, the moratorium which was suspended by Iran a month ago, and we would be explaining to Iran the benefits of coming back to this moratorium, of coming back to implement the additional protocol to the safeguards agreement with the IAEA, which Iran did sign but did not ratify yet... " - said Sergei Lavrov.
    Moscow sees the enrichment joint venture as a way out of confrontation, but diplomats in Europe and the United States doubt the proposal will satisfy Iran, which they suspect of covertly seeking nuclear weapons.
    Although Tehran says it has a "basic" agreement with Russia about the scheme, it has refused so far to give up what it sees as its right to enrich uranium at home.
    Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reiterated in Tokyo that Tehran had the right to move ahead with its uranium-enrichment programme to large-scale commercial production of nuclear fuel for power plants, but added that it was ready to seek a compromise.
    Mottaki, who is visiting Japan on a three-day tour, said in a speech that Iran is "flexible' and is in a position to cooperate and reach a comprehensive compromise with all the parties.
    Iran has said the world must recognise it should eventually be allowed to carry out enrichment domestically and in the meantime it must be able to conduct nuclear fuel research.
    Tehran has repeatedly said it only wants to enrich uranium to the low grade needed to generate electricity, not to the much higher level needed for bombs.
    Iran has said the world must recognise it should eventually be allowed to carry out enrichment domestically and in the meantime it must be able to conduct nuclear fuel research.
    Tehran has repeatedly said it only wants to enrich uranium to the low grade needed to generate electricity, not to the much higher level needed for bombs.
    There is less than a week until a March 6 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose board will discuss its latest report into Iran's nuclear programme.
    The watchdog's report, which says it still cannot confirm there is no covert atomic activity in Iran, will then be forwarded to the United Nations Security Council.
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