Iran discusses "serious" nuclear ideas with Russia

Iran discussed with Russia on Monday its proposals to defuse a nuclear row with the West, which accuses Tehran of seeking to build atomic bombs.

Iran said earlier this month it would unveil ideas to help end the dispute over its nuclear ambitions, which have prompted three rounds of U.N. sanctions since 2006 for its refusal to heed U.N. demands to halt sensitive uranium enrichment work.

But a senior Iranian official said Tehran would never negotiate over its right to nuclear technology, suggesting Iran is not willing to rein in its work in line with U.N. demands.

"Iran ... has serious proposals regarding the nuclear issue, about what to do to minimize the nuclear threat around the world," Jalili said without giving specifics about the package.

The proposals were discussed with Valentin Sobolev, acting secretary of Russia's National Security Council, an Iranian official said. Further talks would be held on Tuesday, he added.

Jalili said the ideas addressed security and political issues and would underpin "talks among influential and major powers, and Iran as a major power in the region can play an important role."

A senior diplomat in Europe said Iran had earlier proposed turning its Natanz enrichment complex into a multilateral operation to counter foreign fears of diversions to bombmaking there, and that this might be among Iran's proposals. Reuters