U.S. Cautious On Announcement By Iran's Nuclear Negotiator

Workers at Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility (file photo) (official site) 29 December 2005 -- The United States expressed caution today over reports that Iran may be ready to study a Russian proposal aimed at addressing world concerns about its nuclear program.

Yesterday, Javad Vaidi, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said Tehran would "seriously" study Moscow's proposal to enrich uranium for Iran in Russia.

Reports said the remarks were the most positive yet by a senior Iranian official about the Russian proposal. U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said today that Washington would welcome such a move.

However, Ereli said in a briefing that Iran's intentions still remain unclear.

Russia's proposal, backed by the European Union and the U.S., seeks to get Iran to enrich uranium abroad to ensure it can't produce atomic weapons.

The proposal follows the resumption this month of talks between Iran and Germany, France, and Britain, which negotiate on behalf of the EU.

(agencies)