Open up nuke plan, Iran urged
Putin's gesture: Russian President Putin (R) shakes hands with Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator during their meeting in Moscow, yesterday. Picture: AFP
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin told a senior Iranian diplomat yesterday he expected Tehran to open up its atomic energy programme to the United Nations' nuclear watchdog.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili met Putin a day after a US intelligence report said Tehran had put its nuclear weapons programme on hold, contradicting the Bush administration view that Iran was actively seeking a bomb.
Minutes before meeting Jalili near Moscow, the Russian leader had a 40-minute telephone conversation with US President George W Bush in which they discussed Iran, a Putin aide said.
"We are pleased to note that your contacts with the International Atomic Energy Agency have become more active," Putin told Jalili in opening remarks at their meeting.
"We expect that all your nuclear programmes will be transparent and under the control of this respected organisation."
The United States has led the West in accusing Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian atomic programme. Iran denies any such intention. The US, France and Britain are pushing for a third round of UN sanctions against Iran.Reuters
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili met Putin a day after a US intelligence report said Tehran had put its nuclear weapons programme on hold, contradicting the Bush administration view that Iran was actively seeking a bomb.
Minutes before meeting Jalili near Moscow, the Russian leader had a 40-minute telephone conversation with US President George W Bush in which they discussed Iran, a Putin aide said.
"We are pleased to note that your contacts with the International Atomic Energy Agency have become more active," Putin told Jalili in opening remarks at their meeting.
"We expect that all your nuclear programmes will be transparent and under the control of this respected organisation."
The United States has led the West in accusing Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian atomic programme. Iran denies any such intention. The US, France and Britain are pushing for a third round of UN sanctions against Iran.Reuters
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