How nice of the Russians, offering to let Iran enrich uranium in Russia.
MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Iran has not excluded the possibility of conducting its uranium enrichment in Russia -- a proposal that could be a way out of escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin, speaking after a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, said "one of the main problems is the enrichment of uranium.
"We proposed to our Iranian partners to set up a joint enrichment venture on Russian territory. We have heard various opinions from our Iranian partners on that issue. One of them has come from the Foreign Ministry -- our partners told us they did not exclude the implementation of our proposal."
"In any case, it's necessary to work carefully and avoid any erroneous moves," Putin said.
Diplomatic steps
Iran’s resumption of nuclear research that could be used for either civilian atomic energy or bombs has sparked a flurry of Western diplomacy in pursuit of a vote by the U.N. nuclear watchdog to refer Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions.
Moscow, with a $1 billion stake building Iran’s first atomic reactor, and Beijing, reliant on Iranian oil for its burgeoning economy, have so far blocked a consensus for referral within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors.
The United States and European Union hoped to enlist Russian and Chinese support for robust diplomatic steps against Iran when U.N. Security Council powers meet on Monday.
But Russia has warned Iran it could lose Moscow’s support unless it suspended the fuel research it resumed last week.
China, however, said resorting to the Security Council might “complicate the issue,” citing Iran’s threat to hit back by halting snap U.N. inspections of its nuclear plants.
The views of Russia and China on an IAEA vote against Iran are crucial as both are veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, along with the United States, Britain and France.
Diplomats said the London meeting of permanent Security Council members and Germany, expected to begin in mid-morning, was aimed at reaching a consensus before an emergency IAEA board meeting the West wants next month.
“There’s some confidence that Russia is increasingly leaning toward the EU3-U.S. position and will not block referral,” said a diplomat with the EU trio of Germany, France and Britain that last week called off a moribund dialogue with Iran.
But he said China still looked more difficult to persuade.
MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Iran has not excluded the possibility of conducting its uranium enrichment in Russia -- a proposal that could be a way out of escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin, speaking after a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, said "one of the main problems is the enrichment of uranium.
"We proposed to our Iranian partners to set up a joint enrichment venture on Russian territory. We have heard various opinions from our Iranian partners on that issue. One of them has come from the Foreign Ministry -- our partners told us they did not exclude the implementation of our proposal."
"In any case, it's necessary to work carefully and avoid any erroneous moves," Putin said.
Diplomatic steps
Iran’s resumption of nuclear research that could be used for either civilian atomic energy or bombs has sparked a flurry of Western diplomacy in pursuit of a vote by the U.N. nuclear watchdog to refer Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions.
Moscow, with a $1 billion stake building Iran’s first atomic reactor, and Beijing, reliant on Iranian oil for its burgeoning economy, have so far blocked a consensus for referral within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors.
The United States and European Union hoped to enlist Russian and Chinese support for robust diplomatic steps against Iran when U.N. Security Council powers meet on Monday.
But Russia has warned Iran it could lose Moscow’s support unless it suspended the fuel research it resumed last week.
China, however, said resorting to the Security Council might “complicate the issue,” citing Iran’s threat to hit back by halting snap U.N. inspections of its nuclear plants.
The views of Russia and China on an IAEA vote against Iran are crucial as both are veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, along with the United States, Britain and France.
Diplomats said the London meeting of permanent Security Council members and Germany, expected to begin in mid-morning, was aimed at reaching a consensus before an emergency IAEA board meeting the West wants next month.
“There’s some confidence that Russia is increasingly leaning toward the EU3-U.S. position and will not block referral,” said a diplomat with the EU trio of Germany, France and Britain that last week called off a moribund dialogue with Iran.
But he said China still looked more difficult to persuade.
