Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on Wednesday gave fresh life to the Russian plan as a way to appease international concern that Tehran's nuclear energy program is a front for building weapons.

Larijani, who was in Moscow, said "we positively evaluate this offer", adding the plan could be "perfected" in talks with Russian officials next month.

Larijani then travelled to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and other senior officials on Thursday.

After his day of meetings in the Chinese capital, Larijani again said the Russian proposal was an option for Iran.

"We welcome any plan that will allow us the peaceful use of nuclear energy," Larijani told reporters here.

"But we need more discussion and we are in the negotiation process on this issue," he said. "We need to be patient. We should not be carried away but consider it more deeply."

China, which is a key player in the global standoff because it is a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, said it backed the plan for Iran's uranium to be enriched on Russian territory.

"We think the suggestion would be a good attempt at breaking the stalemate," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a regular press briefing when asked about the proposal.

Kong also reiterated China's opposition to UN-imposed sanctions and that it preferred diplomatic efforts to any other method of ending the stalemate over Iran's nuclear program.

"In treating similar complicated issues, our position has been very clear -- we are opposed to the use of sanctions or the threat of sanctions to resolve problems, as this will often complicate issues," he said.

China's comments may have offered hope to Iran as it seeks to fend off efforts from the United States and the so-called EU-3 -- France, Germany and Britain -- to refer it to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program.

Under the proposed Russian arrangement, uranium for Iran's nascent nuclear power program would be enriched in Russia in order to keep tabs on the material.

It would allay Western and Israeli fears that Iran secretly plans to build a nuclear weapon under cover of the civilian power project.

The European Union and the United States have previously given backing to the Russian plan.

However the United States has expressed concern that, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) due to meet on February 2 to discuss the Iranian issue, Iran is playing the Russian card to stall for time.

The IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, could decide to refer Iran to the UN Security Council, which could then lead to sanctions.

China -- partly motivated by its economic interests in oil and gas-rich Iran -- has consistently advocated a policy of negotiations on the nuclear issue.

Its general reluctance to exert overt pressure in international relations, such as the imposition of sanctions, is another factor.

Earlier Thursday, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told Larijani that China was concerned about the possible escalation of tensions over the nuclear issue, Xinhua news agency said.

Larijani was quoted by Xinhua as saying that Iran is "willing to make further effort" to resolve the issue through dialogue and talks.

Larijani was scheduled to leave Beijing late Thursday.

Related Links