BUSHEHR, Iran. Feb 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia and Iran have reached an agreement in principle on setting up a uranium enrichment joint venture, Iranian Vice President Golam Reza Agazade said at a Sunday news conference in Bushehr.
An agreement in principle on setting up a joint venture was reached, he said, adding that negotiations on the issue will resume soon.
"We had detailed negotiations on Russian proposals," the Iranian vice president said, adding that these proposals are an element of a packet of proposals and a number of measures on settling the Iranian nuclear problem. Moreover, the Iranian vice president said that he is satisfied with the negotiations.
"Implementation of the proposal (on creating a joint venture - Interfax) will give time and will increase confidence," head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) Sergei Kiriyenko said. Russia and Iran "have almost no organizational, technical or financial problems (in setting up a joint venture - Interfax): however, the Russian proposal is just an element of a complex approach," Kiriyenko said. "More work is needed in the area," he said.
There is a solution that could reaffirm each country's right to acquire nuclear energy and would guarantee the non-proliferation regime. "Thus there is a possibility to resolve problems linked to the Iranian nuclear program within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," the Rosatom head said.