Iran: No need to stop uranium enrichment
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-01 21:45

The chief Iranian nuclear negotiator said Wednesday there was no need for Tehran to resume a moratorium on uranium enrichment activity, setting the stage for tough negotiations with a Russian delegation at a central Moscow hotel.

The two sides met at the Golden Ring Hotel in Moscow for a third round of talks on a Kremlin proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian territory.

Moscow's offer to host Iran's uranium enrichment program has been backed by the United States and the European Union as a way to provide more assurances that Tehran's atomic program could not be diverted to build weapons.

Iran insists its nuclear program is only to generate power, but many in the West fear Iran is aiming to develop atomic bombs.