Russian Nuclear Chief Holding Talks In Iran

Kiriyenko is due to co-chair a meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental committee on economic cooperation with Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.

The talks are expected to include discussion of the Bushehr nuclear reactor that Russia is helping to build in southwest Iran.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has cautiously welcomed a revised draft UN resolution requiring Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

Lavrov said today the draft resolution is based on Russia's proposals and encourages Iran to return to negotiations. He emphasized that he draft makes no mention of the Bushehr project.

"Bushehr has no relation to this resolution. The Bushehr nuclear plant project is carried out in full accordance with IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] norms and under its control and there can be no talk about any restrictions on this project."

(AFP, ITAR-TASS, Reuters)