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Putin Optimistic About Iranian Nuclear Deal

28 February 2006 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin said today he is very optimistic that his country will manage to strike an agreement with Iran over its disputed nuclear program.

Putin was speaking in Budapest, during a visit to Hungary. He said that in his judgment, agreement is possible on Russia's offer to enrich uranium for Iran.

The international community is worried that if Iran does its own enrichment, it could develop nuclear weapons.

At the same time, Putin cautioned that no-one has the right to limit a country from pursuing nuclear energy, as long as it stays within the framework of international law.

Talks on the joint enrichment project between Russia and Iran are to take place in Moscow tomorrow.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said today however that Iran will not stop uranium enrichment even if it accepts the Russian offer of a joint venture.

(Reuters, AP)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org