Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

IRAN MULLS TURKEY FOR NUCLEAR HELP

As the Russians appear to be reneging on their offer to enrich uranium on behalf of the Iranians, it appears as though Tehran may ask Turkey to oversee the operation.

Talks between Tehran and Moscow have faltered this week, ahead of Wednesday’s report to the International Atomic Energy Agency by the organization’s head Muhammad Al-Barade'i. Over the last month Iran had been considering Russia’s proposal to enrich uranium on Russian soil, which Moscow said would ensure the uranium would only be enriched to levels appropriate for electricity generation and not for the creation of nuclear weapons.

Now, Iran’s Ambassador to Ankara Firooz Dowlatabadi is suggesting Tehran may be prepared to allow some of the nuclear process to take place in Turkey to allay the fears of the international community, according to The New Anatolian.

Dowlatabadi has returned to Iran this week for further consultations.

Ankara has frequently offered to act as honest broker between Western and Middle Eastern nations. It cites its unique geopolitical position as grounds for being one of the best-placed nations for mediation. While Turkey is seeking membership of the European Union, it also enjoys considerable respect from fellow Muslim countries.

By The Media Line Staff on Wednesday, March 08, 2006





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