Iran may take part in creating the first international center for uranium enrichment for nuclear power plants, Russia's top nuclear energy official said on Wednesday.

President Vladimir Putin has proposed setting up a global network of nuclear fuel cycle services including enrichment to meet the growing demand for nuclear energy.

"Iran may become the first state to take part in the work of such a center on Russian territory" and Tehran is considering Russia's proposal, the head of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

Kiriyenko will travel to Tehran on Feb. 23 to meet Iranian officials. He will also visit Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, being built with Russian help, Itar-Tass said.

As part of international efforts to solve the dispute over Iran 's nuclear program, Russia has proposed that uranium enrichment -- the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle -- be carried out under a joint venture on the former Soviet republic's soil.

But Iran resumed research on uranium enrichment last month and has announced it had ended all voluntary cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including snap UN inspections of its nuclear sites and suspension of uranium enrichment after the IAEA voted last week to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.

Uranium enriched at low levels can fuel nuclear reactors, but if highly enriched it can be used for nuclear bombs.

Source: Xinhua