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Iran, Russia Hold Nuclear Talks in Moscow
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=110AAA6:3919ACA Moscow offers to
allow Iran to conduct  uranium enrichment activity on Russian soil -
arrangement designed to ensure no uranium is diverted for nuclear
weapons Senior Iranian and Russian officials are holding talks in
Moscow on a Russian proposal to resolve Iran's nuclear stand-off with
the West.

But Russian Foreign MInister Sergei Lavrov is downplaying expectations
for the meeting about the plan, which is aimed at ensuring Iran cannot
divert enriched uranium to a weapons program.  He says Russia wants to
make every effort to avoid escalating the situation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also met in Brussels
Monday with European Union officials on the matter.  The E.U. says it
still hopes to reach a diplomatic solution and does not want to
isolate Iran.

Iran is making efforts to defuse the crisis before the U.N. Security
Council meets to consider Western charges Iran has violated a key
nuclear treaty and is trying to develop nuclear weapons.  Earlier this
month, Iran restarted uranium enrichment, which could produce fuel for
civilian nuclear reactors or material for weapons.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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