MOSCOW, April 11 (UPI) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Iran Tuesday Russia's offer to enrich uranium still stands, and could help resolve the international impasse.
Made last year, Russia's proposal for such a joint venture was backed by the United States and its allies, but Iran rejected the move, saying it did not want to be dependant on other countries for nuclear fuel supplies. Tuesday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that they had successfully produced low-grade enriched uranium.
Lavrov also said Russia hoped upcoming talks between the United States and Iran would bring a solution to the problem, and that there was "no competition" between Russia and the United States in the area of negotiations, the Novosti news agency reported.
Russia is also involved in helping Iran build an $800-million nuclear power plant.
The United Nations Security Council has demanded Iran stop enrichment activity and on March 29 asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to report on its compliance in 30 days.
Iran insists its nuclear development is solely for the production of electricity, and resumed research in Janury.
