Iranian and Russian officials resumed talks here Tuesday on a Russian proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian territory, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The talks were being held at the Foreign Ministry and officials from the Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom also were also attending, the Itar-Tass quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying.

The talks focused on a Russian proposal to shift Iran's uranium enrichment activities to Russian territory.

In putting forward the proposal, Russia had hoped to persuade Iran to reinstate a moratorium on uranium enrichment.

But Ali Hosseini-Tash, head of the Iranian delegation and deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, ruled out linking "a moratorium on uranium enrichment and talks on the Russian proposal," according to Itar-Tass.

Western countries have backed Moscow's compromise plan, saying it could help allay concerns over Iran potentially producing weapons-grade nuclear material.

The Russian plan is seen as a crucial attempt to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program before a March 6 meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, which reports say could start a process leading to UN punishment against Iran.

The two sides held talks on Monday but no visible progress was made. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after Monday's talks that the discussion with Iran could allow the nuclear issue to stay within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Chances remain for keeping the situation within the framework of the IAEA," Lavrov was quoted by Itar-Tass as saying. "It is too early to speak about the results yet," as the negotiations are continuing, he added.

Source: Xinhua