TEHERAN - Iran said on Wednesday it would âseriously and enthusiasticallyâ study a Russian proposal aimed at reducing international fears about its nuclear programme, the ISNA students news agency reported.The remarks by Javad Vaeedi, deputy head of Iranâs Supreme National Security Council, were the most positive yet by a senior Tehran official about Moscowâs offer to form a joint venture with Iran to enrich uranium in Russia. The Russian proposal, âwill be reviewed seriously and enthusiastically,â Vaeedi told ISNA.
| Of course, Vaeedi has no power, so this is just part of the dance. |
Striking a much softer tone than recent comments by other Iranian officials, Vaeedi said the Russian proposal could be studied in the framework of an existing agreement with Moscow on supply of enriched uranium for Iranâs first atomic reactor at Bushehr, due to come onstream in late 2006. âThe new proposal could be studied and its economic, technical and scientific dimensions clarified. The amount of participation of the Iranian side in this plan will be an important indicator,â he said.
| "Yes, we could do all those things, and in the end throw it back into the Europeans' faces, once we have our bomb." |