Iran says has "basic" enrichment deal with Russia - New reactors planned

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http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Iran_says_has_basic_enrichment_deal_with_Russia.html?siteSect=143&sid=6650045&cKey=1145713127000



TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's ambassador to the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Saturday that Iran had a basic deal to enrich uranium in a joint venture in Russia but said details were still being worked out, Iranian state radio reported.

Russia has offered to enrich uranium for Iran to allay concerns that Tehran could use domestically-produced enriched uranium to make nuclear bombs.

But progress on the deal has been hindered by Iran's refusal to bow to international demands that it halt all home-grown enrichment work. A "basic agreement" on enrichment with Russia was previously announced by Iran in February but talks subsequently appeared to stall.

Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said a full agreement was now close in reach.