Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Hosts Iranians to Discuss Uranium Enrichment

The head of the Iranian delegation, a deputy head of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Hosseinitash (L) arrives in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport early on February 20, 2006. Iranian and Russian officials meet in Moscow on Monday to discuss a compromise deal that may be the last chance to defuse the row over Tehran’s nuclear programme before Western governments seek sanctions.

Reuters: Russia hosts Iranians for talks on nuclear row

Iranian and Russian officials meet in Moscow on Monday to discuss a compromise deal that may be a last chance to defuse the row over Tehran’s nuclear program before Western governments seek sanctions.

Moscow is offering to enrich the uranium Iran needs for nuclear power stations on Russian soil, an arrangement that would help ease international concerns Tehran could divert the material for bomb-making.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made clear he did not expect much from the Moscow talks, but promised President Vladimir Putin that he would try and make best of them.

“Frankly speaking, we feel reserved about the possible outcome of talks,” Itar-Tass news agency quoted Lavrov as saying at a regular meeting with the Russian leader.

“But we will make every effort not to allow the situation to get worse or to evolve into the use of force,” he said.

Russia wants Tehran to reinstate a moratorium on uranium enrichment before creating a joint venture to supply Iran with fuel for power stations — which would not be enriched highly enough for making an atomic bomb.

“We intend to urge our Iranian colleagues strongly to resume the nuclear moratorium,” Itar-Tass news agency quoted an unnamed senior foreign ministry official as saying ahead of the talks.

But the head of the Iranian delegation that arrived earlier on Monday, Ali Hosseinitash, made clear he was not ready for a major compromise.

“Our talks with Russian officials are not conditional,” Iranian television quoted Hosseinitash, a deputy head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, as saying. “We will not step back one inch from our obvious right (to nuclear technology).”

YAWN….another face saving attempt by the Russians for a business ( nuclear reactor building) customer.

Just another STALL and absolutely NOTHING will come of these meetings.

“The sides will discuss mainly technical issues like the number of participants in the project and venues for enriching uranium,” Russian daily newspaper Gazeta said. “All these are important issues, but not the ones of top priority.”

Gazeta said Russia was pinning its hopes on a visit to Iran later this week by Sergei Kiriyenko, the head of Russia’s nuclear agency, Rosatom.

The ball continues in the Mullah’s court and the clock for Iran regime changes continues to tick tick tick……..

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