WORLD / Middle East
Iran's top nuclear negotiator may meet with Putin - report
(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-11 15:46
MOSCOW - Iran's top nuclear negotiator was to continue talks in Moscow on
Saturday, and Russian news agencies reported that he might meet with
President Vladimir Putin.
On Friday, Ali Larijani insisted Tehran would push ahead with its
controversial nuclear program, and suggested it could break off ties with
the UN nuclear watchdog if the world inflicts punishments proposed by
European nations.
In a familiar mix of threats and offers, Ali Larijani said Iran wanted
negotiations to ease the mounting standoff over fears it is seeking
nuclear weapons, but that it would not abandon what he insisted was a
peaceful nuclear energy program.
He was to meet again Saturday with Igor Ivanov, the head of Russia's
Security Council. The ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies reported
that Putin might also receive him.
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Iran Nuke Issue
That suggested that Russia was making a strong diplomatic push to get
Iran to shift its position on its nuclear program. Moscow is seeking to
revive its proposal to move Iran's uranium enrichment work to Russian
soil to assuage international concerns that Iran could use the process to
develop weapons. Larijani said Friday that the proposal remains on the
table, but there was no evidence of movement toward Iranian acceptance.
"We want to use our rights under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and
in this context there will be no retreat, but we are ready for
negotiations," Larijani said Friday. He said Iran was prepared to renew
negotiations with the European Union's top diplomat, Javier Solana, or to
hold talks "in any other format," according to Russian news agencies.
The European draft resolution that would impose UN sanctions on Iran
"will not promote a political solution of the problem," Larijani said.
"Those who support adopting the resolution want to aggravate the problems
of the region."
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