Moscow is waiting for Tehran's reply to Russia's offer to enrich uranium for Iran's nuclear power plant as a compromise to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program, a Russian diplomat said Monday.

"We presented an official memo to Iran on Saturday. We are waiting for a reply," Vyacheslav Moshkalo, a counselor in the Russian Embassy in Tehran, told the Interfax news agency.

The diplomat's remarks came a day after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said on Sunday Tehran had not received any specific offer from Moscow.

"It is hard to say what Mr. Asefi meant. Probably, they are expecting a detailed plan, as every bid comprises several points," the diplomat said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday it made an offer to Iran to set up a joint venture in Russia that enriches uranium for Iran.

Enriched uranium can be used as fuel in power generation or to make atomic bombs. The proposal is seen as a way to minimize the chances of Iran acquiring the critical nuclear know-how to make weapons-grade components.

The United States accuses Iran of running a covert nuclear arms program. Iran, however, says its nuclear work is designed merely to meet its energy needs.

Source: Xinhua