Russia takes nuclear plan to Iran

BBC:

Saturday, 12 November 2005

Senior Russian envoy Igor Ivanov has arrived in Iran with a proposal aimed at resolving the international dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Russian officials say the plan allows Iran to engage in uranium conversion while shifting enrichment to Russia.

They say that if Iran accepts, it will not be referred to the UN Security Council, which can impose sanctions.

Tehran - which says its nuclear programme is peaceful - has so far insisted it wants to do the enrichment.

The West fears that the process could enable Iran to produce nuclear weapons-grade uranium.

In August Tehran rejected European proposals for resolving the crisis and resumed the processing of uranium.

Unnamed European officials told the Associated Press news agency that both the EU and the US would endorse the deal outlined by Moscow.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in September paved the way for Iran's referral to the Security Council - which could impose sanctions - but the agency has not set a date for this.

The agency's board of governors is due to discuss the issue on 24 November.