UN must include Russia's amendments to Iran resolution - Larijani
10/11/2006 11:43 MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - Tehran will reconsider its relations with the UN's nuclear watchdog if the UN Security Council passes a draft resolution on sanctions against Iran without including Russia's amendments softening the sanctions, Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Friday.
Ali Larijani told journalists on his arrival in Moscow for talks on his country's controversial nuclear program, "If the UN Security Council adopts the draft resolution without Russia's amendments, and in violation of earlier agreements, it will affect Iran's relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency."
The Iranian official, who will meet with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov later in the day, hailed Iran's partnership with Russia, pledged to continue talks with international mediators on the nuclear issue, and said Russia's offer to enrich Iran's uranium was still on the table.
Russia, which has consistently supported Iran's drive for nuclear power and is building a $1 bln power plant in the country, has rejected the European draft resolution on Tehran, calling the proposed sanctions excessive, and wants all references to the Bushehr nuclear power plant removed from the document. Moscow submitted its amendments last Friday.
Russia has consistently supported Iran's right to nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation treaty, and under the supervision of the IAEA, despite international fears that the country is pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program.
Larijani said, "Russia is our neighbor and friend. We share a lot of interests, and Russia is a natural ally of Iran."
The official also said Tehran was willing to continue talks with the Iran-6 group of international mediators - the five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany.
"The problem should be resolved at talks with the Iran-6, whose proposals we have studied and responded to," he said.
The sanctions against Iran proposed by Britain, France and Germany - the EU-3 - envisage a ban on sales of missile and nuclear technologies to the country, freezing its military bank accounts, and imposing visa restrictions on Iranian officials linked to the nuclear industry.
Under the draft, the construction of Russia's Bushehr NPP in southern Iran would not be banned, but fuel supplies to the plant would be restricted.
In an attempt to end the deadlock around Iran's nuclear program, Moscow proposed earlier this year to set up a joint venture to enrich uranium for Iran's nuclear power plants on Russian territory. Larijani said Russia's proposal was still being considered.
"Russia's offer to set up a joint venture to enrich uranium on Iran's territory has always been and remains on the negotiating table. Discussions are continuing," he said.
Moscow and Tehran have conducted three rounds of talks on the joint venture that would cover Iran's nuclear fuel needs for its energy generating plants.
The first round was held in the Kremlin February 20, the second in Iran February 25 and the third in Moscow March 1.
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