Russia optimistic but wants changes in Iran text

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 14 (Reuters) Russia produced amendments to a draft European resolution imposing sanctions on Iran for its nuclear ambitions but said none appeared to block any final agreement.

''We had the regular discussions we have on the final stages of the resolution,'' Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters after a meeting of key negotiators from the United States, Britain, France, Germany and China.

He said Moscow objected to a travel ban on Iranian companies and individuals involved in Tehran's nuclear programme. ''The travel ban, we think it does not fit,'' Churkin said.

The proposals are a reaction to Iran's failure to comply with an August. 31 UN deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for nuclear power plants or for bombs. Iran says it wants nuclear power for peaceful purposes, while the West believes its research is a cover for bomb making.

An annex to the resolution singles out 11 agencies or businesses and 12 individuals involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, candidates for a travel and financial freeze on assets abroad.

Churkin said he wanted to change the list and delete the travel ban, but not delete the assets freeze.

In the main, the resolution bans imports and exports of materials and technology related to uranium enrichment, reprocessing or heavy-water reactors as well as ballistic missile weapons delivery systems. Diplomats said Russia wanted some changes in this area as well.

British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said governments of Security Council members would consider the amendments in hopes of a vote next week. He said the United States had also offered some changes to the measure but these were not released.

A key concession to Russia was allowing the continued construction and supply of fuel to an 800 million dollar light-water reactor it is building at Bushehr in southwest Iran. The original draft was ambiguous on fuel supplies.

The text says the council would consider lifting the sanctions if Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, decides Iran has suspended its uranium work and stopped efforts to produce a heavy-water nuclear energy reactor. He reports within 60 days.

And it threatens further measures if Iran does not comply but it is doubtful any will be imposed, considering the weeks of haggling over an initial resolution.

On Tuesday, the meeting of the six nations was canceled after Russia walked out because the United States, minutes earlier, had asked Security Council members to consider the oppression of political dissidents in Belarus, a former Soviet republic.

Churkin said this was not an issue the council should discuss, adding:''Either we use the Security Council as an important international instrument to resolve serious international problems or ... use it as a platform for propaganda stance.'' REUTERS DKS PM0454