Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said on Wednesday his country wants to settle the Iranian nuclear issue by political means as a new round of talks began on Moscow's proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian territory.

"Iran's nuclear dossier could now be seen as a document in which the political component prevails over other issues," Iranian Supreme National Council Secretary Ali Larijani, quoted by the Interfax news agency, said upon arrival in Moscow.

"We have no excessive demands and we keep an eye on the rights accorded Iran in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency," Larijani said.

Larijani heads a Iranian delegation that began their closed- door meeting with Russian officials Wednesday afternoon to discuss the Russian proposal.

The consultations were the third round of the talks that began last week. After the previous two rounds in Moscow and Tehran, Iran said on Sunday it had agreed in principle with Russia on setting up a uranium enrichment joint venture.

The Russian plan, backed by Western countries, is seen as a crucial attempt to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program before the March 6 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which reports say could start a process leading to UN punishment against Iran.

"Peaceful research in the nuclear energy sector is within our legitimate rights," Larijani said.

The chief negotiator also said Iran would allow IAEA inspectors to come to the country and clarify all the questions they have.

Source: Xinhua