Iran said Sunday it needed time to review a plan proposed by the head of the U.N nuclear watchdog that calls for holding off on imposing U.N. Security Council sanctions if Tehran halts uranium enrichment.
 |
|
|
 |
| International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei |
|
|
|
|
 BREAKING NEWS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei proposed the simultaneous time-out plan during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in an effort to end the standoff over between the West and Iran over the Islamic Republic's disputed nuclear program.
"Time should be allocated to see if the plan has the capacity to solve the (nuclear) case," Ali Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, told reporters during a joint news conference with Russia's national security adviser, Igor Ivanov. He did not elaborate.
The Security Council last month voted unanimously in favor of imposing limited sanctions on Iran after it ignored demands to halt enrichment. Iran faces the prospect of additional sanctions unless it stops enrichment, which can produce material usable both as fuel for electricity-generating reactors and for nuclear weapons, by the end of a 60-day period that ends next month.
Though Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, the U.S. and its allies believe it is secretly developing atomic weapons.
Ivanov said ElBaradei's proposal could be "remarkable" and was optimistic that the dispute could be resolved if both sides agreed to it.
"The situation of Iran's nuclear case is critical. Reducing its intensity is our aim," Ivanov said. "We are currently discussing to remove obstacles from the way of negotiations. All sides should show flexibility and avoid statements that worsen the situation."
Iranian state-run radio reported earlier Sunday that Tehran wants Moscow to help mediate the standoff, saying the country was looking to Russia for "new proposals, such as enrichment of uranium on Russian soil." Iran also expects Russia to "take a close stance with the international community," the radio said.
The Kremlin proposed last year that Iran move its uranium enrichment work to Russian territory, where it could be better monitored to alleviate the international concerns that Tehran is trying to build atomic bombs in violation of its treaty commitments.
Read more news
Iran to Enrich Uranium Despite Global Opposition
Forum
Source: 
