Iran takes tough stance in nuclear talks

Iran and Russia appeared at loggerheads today as they launched a new round of talks on the Kremlin’s proposed uranium enrichment deal – an offer aimed at easing Western fears that Tehran is forging ahead with efforts to build an atomic bomb.

Setting the stage for tough negotiations in Moscow, the chief Iranian nuclear negotiator said there was no need – in spite of Moscow’s insistence – for Tehran to resume a moratorium on uranium enrichment activity.

“A moratorium is necessary when there is something dangerous. But all our activities are transparent,” Ali Larijani said, speaking through a Russian translator.

The two sides later met at the Golden Ring Hotel, across the street from the Foreign Ministry, for a third round of talks on a Kremlin proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian territory.

Igor Ivanov, the secretary of the National Security Council, led the Russian delegation. The negotiations were expected to wrap up in the evening and the Iranian delegation to leave Moscow on Thursday morning, the Interfax news agency reported.