IRAN: Iran is seriously considering a Russian offer to enrich uranium for Tehran, but needs to discuss further the timing and place for any enrichment, the Iranian foreign minister said yesterday.
Discussions between Iran and Russia over the offer ended on Tuesday with an agreement to continue talks this week during a visit to Tehran by the head of Moscow's nuclear agency.
However, Iran showed few signs on Tuesday that it was ready to strike a deal with Russia that could allay fears it wants nuclear arms and avert possible UN sanctions.
"There must be some new elements in that proposal. If you ask about the main elements, I will tell you - the timing and place," Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters after meeting his Indonesian counterpart in Jakarta.
"I believe the Russian proposal can be considered seriously and may be reaching a kind of compromise."
Iran says its nuclear programme will be used only to generate electricity and not to make nuclear arms as the West fears.
The US and the EU trio of Britain, France and Germany - the countries pressing Iran hardest on its nuclear plans - are looking to March 6th when the UN nuclear watchdog is to report on Iran to the UN Security Council.
The US wants sanctions against Iran, although Russia and China, veto-wielding members of the security council, are cool on the idea.