Reports: Progress in Iran, Russia uranium talks

Russia and Iran reported progress Sunday on a Russian proposal for a joint uranium enrichment program, according to Russian news agencies.

According to the RIA-Novosti news agency, Iranian Vice President Golam Reza Agazadeh said negotiations on the agreement would resume soon in Moscow.

"We held talks with the Russian side on Russia's proposal yesterday and today. The talks saw good progress. Both sides are pleased with the talks," Agazadeh said.

He spoke at a news conference in Bushehr, Iran, where a Russian delegation toured Iran's nearly-complete nuclear power plant. Russia is aiding Iran in the plant's construction.

At the same news conference, the head of Russia's nuclear agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, said the talks -- which include negotiations for the completion of the Bushehr plant -- had further to go.

"Implementation of the proposal will give time and will increase confidence," Kiriyenko said. The two countries "have almost no organizational, technical or financial problems" relating to the proposal, he said, stressing that it "is just an element of a complex approach."

"More work is needed in the area," he said.

The ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that talks between the two countries would continue until the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors meets on March 6.

Last week in Moscow, Russian and Iranian negotiators talked about Russia's offer to enrich uranium for Tehran on Russian soil -- an offer Russia says is contingent on Iran completely halting its nuclear enrichment program inside its borders.

However, Iran has said in the past it won't engage in any negotiations or agree to any deal that would deny its right to enrich uranium on its own soil.

Russia, one of Iran's largest trading partners, is trying to resolve the nuclear dispute that has triggered major international concerns -- particularly from the United States -- and avoid sanctions that could potentially be imposed by the United Nations Security Council.

The IAEA is expected to report Tehran to the Security Council since Iran ended its cooperation with the nuclear watchdog agency.

Iran insists its nuclear research program is meant for civilian purposes and to produce energy, but many Western countries fear the move is an effort to create nuclear weapons.

Iran restarted work at its Natanz facility February 13, according to a diplomat close to the IAEA. But earlier on Sunday, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said the work that began at that time did not include uranium enrichment.