Talks between Iran, Russia delayed

A new round of talks between Iran and Russia previously scheduled on Thursday in Moscow has been postponed, government spokesman said on Monday.

"The date of the planned negotiations would be reset due to some new developments," government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham told reporters.

He added that the talks would be resumed sometime based on mutual agreement between the two countries.

Elham stressed that Iran was determined to enrich uranium for peaceful purpose within its own territory.

Iran and Russia had been originally preparing to discuss in the next round of talks a compromise proposal put forward by Russia in late December 2005 to defuse the escalating crisis over the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Russian proposal suggests that the two countries establish a joint venture in Russia to enrich uranium for Iran in a bid to disperse the suspicion over Iran's nuclear program while securing Iran's legitimate right to construct nuclear fuel cycle.

Iran has been posing equivocal stance on the proposal, saying it was not negative but has to be complemented.

Source: Xinhua