Iranian officials met with Russian atomic energy agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko in Moscow on Thursday to discuss an ongoing Russian project to build a nuclear reactor in southern Iran, a spokesman said.
"During the talks a whole spectrum of issues was raised, including Bushehr," Sergei Novikov, spokesman for Russia's atomic energy agency Rosatom, told AFP.
The Iranian delegation was made up of the country's ambassador to Moscow, Gholamreza Ansari, and Mohammad Saidi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Agency, Novikov said.
Russia has resisted US calls to abandon the Bushehr project, which is expected to be completed by 2007, saying that Iran's first nuclear reactor will not undermine non-proliferation efforts by the international community.
The visit comes as negotiators from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States prepare to meet in London on May 19 to discuss ways of getting Iran to give up sensitive nuclear research.
Western powers suspect Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapons capability under the cover of a civilian energy programme.
But Iran insists its nuclear aims are entirely peaceful.
Source: Agence France-Presse
related report
Iran Pledges To 'Negotiate' EU Nuclear Offer
Tehran (AFP) May 12 – Iran will "negotiate" an anticipated European offer aimed at cooling a crisis over its nuclear program but refuses to suspend enrichment activities, a nuclear spokesman said Thursday.
"For the moment we have received no offer (from the Europeans) but because Iran believes in a diplomatic solution, we believe that such a proposition can be taken into consideration and negotiated," said Hossam Entezani according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.
He added that in "any offer, particularly one from Europe, suspending Iran's basic rights of uranium enrichment research are not acceptable."
Source: Agence France-Presse
