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Russia says deal “impossible” if Iran ignores IAEA demands |
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Saturday, 11 March 2006 |
Iran Focus
 London, Mar. 11 – Russia has said that a deal with Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program is “impossible” unless Tehran suspended its uranium enrichment activities, a request that has been outright rejected by Iranian officials, the Russian News & Information Agency quoted a Russian negotiator as having said on Saturday.
“Russia considers a joint uranium enrichment venture with Iran impossible if the Iranian side fails to comply with IAEA demands”, RIA Novosti reported.
“The IAEA demands include Iran's resumption of moratorium on uranium enrichment and ratification of an additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty”, it quoted the unnamed official as having said.
“Since Iran has failed to reach agreement with the IAEA, Russia considers the creation of a joint venture impossible”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency referred Iran’s nuclear dossier to the United Nations Security Council earlier this week for failing to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog over its suspected atomic weapons program.
Moscow’s proposal involved Iran carrying out enrichment exclusively on Russian soil in return for it to receive nuclear assistance from the West and avoid facing punitive measures.
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