Iran plays down Russian enrichment deal report

MOSCOW, Apr 22 (Reuters) A senior Iranian diplomat today played down a radio report that Tehran had a ''basic agreement'' with Moscow to enrich uranium in Russia and said no new deal had been struck.

Earlier today Iranian state radio had quoted Iran's ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog, Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, as saying only a few technical, legal and financial issues must be ironed out on a joint enrichment project with Russia.

But speaking to Reuters in Moscow, where Iranian officials have held talks with Russian and European counterparts on the nuclear issue, Soltanieh said there had been no new progress on the enrichment talks.

''Of course with the initiative of our Russian friends there have been some discussions with our European friends, but that is all I can say at this stage,'' he said. ''There is no new agreement. This is the principle agreement we have had before.'' Russia has offered to enrich uranium for Iran to allay concerns that Tehran could use domestically-produced enriched uranium to make nuclear bombs.

But progress on the deal has been hindered by Iran's refusal to bow to international demands that it halt all home-grown enrichment work.

A ''basic agreement'' on enrichment with Russia was previously announced by Iran in February but talks subsequently appeared to stall.

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