Iran Welcomes Russia Nuke Offer

Talks Progress For Moscow To Enrich Uranium; Iran, China To Meet

(AP) 
Meanwhile, adding to the tension between Iran and the U.S. and Britain, Iran's president on Wednesday blamed both countries for two bombings in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, which borders Iraq. At least nine people were killed in Tuesday's two blasts and forty-six were wounded, police spokesman Mohammed Ali Pour said Wednesday.

"Traces of the occupiers of Iraq is evident in the Ahvaz events. They should take responsibility in this regard," state television quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying.

European countries believe they will have enough votes at the Feb. 2 meeting to haul Iran before the Security Council, a move also favored by the United States, but they want broad support, including from Russia, China and key developing nations.

Russia, which is building a reactor for Iran's first nuclear power plant, is not eager to see the issue come before the Security Council, where it is a veto-wielding permanent member.

Following their talks Tuesday, Larijani and Ivanov said in a joint statement that Tehran's nuclear standoff must be resolved through the IAEA. "Both sides expressed their desire to solve the issue in a diplomatic way within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency," Russia's Security Council said.

After mixed signals from Iran, the Russian enrichment proposal has returned to the center of intensifying diplomacy after Iranian officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was under consideration. The plan presents Putin with an opportunity to please the West without sacrificing ties with Iran.

Taking the idea a step further, Putin called Wednesday for the creation of an international system of facilities that would provide enrichment and other nuclear-cycle services to nations that want nuclear power. In televised comments, he said Russia could establish the prototype facility on its territory.

Following reports that Tehran wants China involved in the Russian enrichment process, the Iranian Embassy announced that Iran's top nuclear negotiator will meet with Chinese officials in Beijing. Chief negotiator Ali Larijani is expected to arrive in Beijing early Thursday, a statement from the Embassy said, without giving additional details.