Iran received the first shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia today for its new reactor, suspected by some to be a potential source for atomic weapons.

Russia has made its first shipment of nuclear fuel to Iran’s Bushehr plant, which is at the centre of international tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, the foreign ministry said today.

Russia’s foreign minister today urged Iran to show good will in resolving the dispute over its controversial nuclear programme, as a senior Iranian envoy held talks in Moscow.

Russia today said the Iranian nuclear crisis must be solved under the direction of the UN nuclear watchdog agency, and it called on Iran to co-operate more fully with the organisation.

Iran and Russia have agreed in principle to establish a joint uranium enrichment venture, a breakthrough in talks on a US-backed Kremlin proposal aimed at easing concerns that Tehran wants to build nuclear weapons.

Iran and Russia today agreed in principle to establish a joint uranium enrichment venture, a breakthrough in talks on a US-backed Kremlin proposal aimed at easing concerns that Tehran wants to build nuclear weapons.

IRAN will only consider a compromise offer from Russia on its nuclear programme if the deal acknowledges its right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil, a government has said.

Iran led international media on a tour of its first nuclear power plant today, an invitation that followed US accusations that it is designed for weapons technology, not energy production.