Iran to 'review' work with IAEA if UN resolution adopted

MOSCOW (AFP) - Iran would "review" its cooperation with UN nuclear inspectors if a draft UN resolution aimed at curbing its nuclear program is adopted in its current form, Iran's top nuclear negotiator warned here.

"We will review our relations with the IAEA if the UN adopts the European resolution without the amendments proposed by Russia," Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying on his arrival in Moscow, referring to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.

And even if the Russian amendments are included, adoption of a UN resolution "will not make Iran change its mind" about its nuclear program, he said.

"We have to find a logical way to solve this problem," he added, apparently referring to international concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

The United States and the European Union say they suspect Iran of using a nuclear energy program to mask nuclear weapons work. Tehran denies this and insists its nuclear activities are legal and strictly for energy purposes.

Larijani announced he would be meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and with the head of the Russian national security council, Igor Ivanov, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

He said that a Russian proposal to enrich uranium jointly with Iran on Russian territory was still under consideration. "This proposal was never rejected and it remains on the negotiating table."

The Iranian negotiator said Tehran was carefully studying a package of proposals from six world powers aimed at dissuading Iran from pursuing sensitive nuclear work on its own.

"We hope that the problem will be solved within the framework of these proposals," he said.

Larijani's visit takes place against a backdrop of negotiations among permanent member nations of the UN Security Council over a European draft resolution to impose sanctions on Iran.

Iran has refused to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work that can be used for atomic energy generation and, eventually, to build atomic weapons.

Larijani this week shrugged off the threat of UN sanctions, saying "this will not have any effect on the economic situation and on the people's daily life," Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Russia, one of the permanent members along with Britain, China, France and the United States, has said the resolution is too tough on Iran and has proposed major amendments to the draft.