MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is currently studying a package of nuclear proposals that Iran has submitted to six world powers, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki earlier presented the package to ambassadors from China, France, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, which represents the United States, and Britain. The details of the proposals have not been made available.
"We are studying them closely now. We expect to continue the full-scale negotiation process between the six [powers] and Iran in the near future, and to make progress in dealing with the Iranian nuclear program," ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters.
He added that Russia would give its assessment of the document following an expert study and an exchange of opinions with other nations involved.
Iran has been under pressure to halt uranium enrichment, needed both for electricity generation and weapons production. Tehran has repeatedly rejected the demand, insisting it is pursuing a purely civilian program. In early April the six powers suggested that Iran should resume negotiations on its nuclear program.
U.S. President Barack Obama said in July that Tehran must respond to the six international negotiators' proposal to halt nuclear activities in exchange for trade incentives by the end of September. France and Germany said they would seek harsher sanctions for the Islamic Republic if it turned down the offer.
World leaders are expected to address the issue at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on September 24-25.
