Iran says it could be close to agreement with Russia
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-05 19:57

Iran could reach a nuclear agreement with Russia or Europe within the next few hours, but its foreign ministry said Sunday such a deal would be called off if the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog referred the Islamic republic to the Security Council.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei speaks to the media in Vienna. The UN's atomic watchdog agency will consider a report from ElBaradei on Iran's nuclear program in a meeting on Monday expected to clear the way for the UN Security Council to consider acting against the Islamic country. [AFP]

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said a Russian proposal to enrich Iranian nuclear fuel needed more discussion.

"Both an agreement, and its absence, is possible. Nothing is definite," he said.

On Thursday, Iran and Russia held talks to establish a joint uranium enrichment venture to ease concerns over its nuclear ambitions. However, further negotiations on the details did not produce a clear-cut decision as Iran did not entirely give up plans for domestic enrichment -- a key Western demand.

Asefi's comments came one day before the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of directors was to meet and decide whether to recommend that the U.N. Security Council takes action against Iran.

He said Monday's meeting "will be a big test for the agency to show how it will defend its members. What it is going to do, will be a basis for judgment by the world. We do advise the agency to work in a professional and nonpolitical direction," said Asefi.

Asefi said Iran was ready to negotiate, but insisted that it has the right to domestic enrichment as a signatory to the NPT.

Enrichment is a key process that can determine the direction of a nuclear program. Uranium enriched to a low level produces fuel for a nuclear reactor, while higher enrichment produces the material needed for a warhead.

The United States and its western allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies any intention to build weapons, saying it only aims to produce energy.

Asefi also criticized what he described as the double standard in U.S. nuclear policy, citing Washington's recent deal with India as an example.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi also said Washington was systematically trying to show Tehran in a bad light.

"The United States' approach is a form of double standards. It signed a contract with a country that was not a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. That is objectionable. On the other hand, it approaches Iran in such a (bad) way," Asefi told a news briefing.

Last week, U.S. President George W. Bush signed an agreement with India for America to provide it with nuclear fuel, reactors and know-how to help meet its growing demands for power.

"Any time that the conditions over Iran's nuclear case appear good, the United States expressed pessimism and impedes progress," he said.