N-dispute: Iran wants more time for talks

Iran urged Western powers not to refer a dispute over its nuclear programme to the UN Security Council.

Iran urged Western powers on Saturday not to refer a dispute over its nuclear programme to the UN Security Council, arguing talks with Russia on a potential compromise needed "more time".

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"This proposal is under review. On some factors like increasing the number of partners, we have reached an agreement. Regarding the place or places, we are still studying it," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters.

"The second round of talks on the Russian proposal, which needs more expert input, will take place in Moscow on February 16," he added.

"We are seriously studying it. This proposal should be comprehensive, so it becomes a solution for the nuclear case. We need more time: we should continue the intensive talks until the IAEA meeting in March."

Moscow's idea to enrich uranium outside Iran is seen as a way out of a growing crisis over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and has received cautious and conditional backing from the United States and European Union.

The idea is for the sensitive nuclear fuel work -- which could potentially be diverted to produce nuclear weapons -- to be conducted outside the Islamic republic.

But the EU and US still want to see Iran referred to the UN Security Council when the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors holds an emergency meeting in Vienna on Febuary 2.

But Mottaki said the meeting "should pass" without any move against Iran "in order to reach a comprehensive understanding for the March meeting."