Iran puts off talks with Russia on nuclear fuel deal

IRAN announced yesterday it was deferring until next week talks with Russia on its nuclear plans, but gave no sign it was ready to stop enriching uranium on its own soil, the key element in Moscow’s plan.

However, a senior Iranian official said no actual uranium enrichment had yet taken place at the Natanz facility where Iran had halted work during negotiations with the European Union.

“No work has been done on the centrifuges and no gas has been injected yet,” said the official, asking not to be named.

“They are preparing the ground. A facility that has been suspended for two and half years cannot become functional in one night.”

Centrifuges spin uranium hexafluoride at supersonic speed to make atomic fuel or, if highly enriched, bomb-grade material.

Other officials had said preliminary work to revive a pilot project had begun at Natanz this week, intensifying world concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Russia and France called on Iran to cease “all activities connected with enrichment and processing” of nuclear fuel. Their joint statement was issued by the Kremlin during a visit to Moscow by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

Russia has offered to enrich uranium on Iran’s behalf in a compromise designed to allay fears the Iranians might divert nuclear material into bombs.

Western countries suspect Iran wants nuclear weapons and this month persuaded the International Atomic Energy Agency to report it to the UN Security Council.