Russia on Tuesday downplayed a delay of talks with Iran on Moscow's uranium enrichment proposal for Tehran after Iran requested a new date for the talks originally scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying that Tehran had requested to delay the talks, originally scheduled for Thursday in Moscow, until next Monday for "technical reasons."

The delay was announced on Tuesday by Javad Vaidi, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who also confirmed his country has resumed some work on uranium enrichment.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak downplayed the delay, saying "This is an usual coordination practice," the Interfax news agency reported.

"There is no problem in that, and I think we will welcome the Iranian delegation," Kislyak said.

Western countries have backed Russia's proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on its soil, saying it could help allay concerns about Iran potentially producing weapons-grade nuclear material.

Iran hinted on Monday that its decision to delay the Moscow talks came in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency's decision earlier this month to report Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki was quoted by Itar-Tass as saying upon arrival in Armenia's capital Yerevan that negotiations with Russia "remain on the agenda."

In a related development, Russia and France called on Iran to suspend the enrichment and processing of uranium in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's visit to Moscow.

"Russia and France call on Iran to fulfill the February resolution and the demands of the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, including full suspension of all activities related to enrichment and processing," the statement said.

In the statement, the two countries said they recognized Iran's legitimate right to develop a civilian nuclear program.

Source: Xinhua