Rice in Moscow to meet Russian leaders on Iran

MOSCOW, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Moscow late Friday for a brief visit to Russia that will center on Iran's nuclear program.

Rice is to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying he and Rice will discuss the Iranian nuclear program and other issues.

Rice and Lavrov are also expected to address the situation in Central Asia, the Korean nuclear issue and the Middle East.

The top US diplomat flew into Moscow as talks between the West and Iran over its controversial nuclear program have been stalled after Iran ended a freeze on uranium conversion in August.

The European Union (EU) trio in the talks -- Germany, France and Britain -- bristled at Iran's renewal of nuclear fuel work and warned of hauling Iran before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

Iran said Tuesday it was prepared to restart negotiations with the UN nuclear watchdog and all its members, including the EU, " without any preconditions."

The United States accuses Iran of seeking nuclear know-how to build nuclear weapons. Iran, however, says its nuclear program is dedicated exclusively to power generation.

Rice will leave for London Saturday.

Source: Xinhua