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Turkey, Brazil not included in Iran Six talks - Lavrov

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Turkey and Brazil are not joining talks led by the Iran Six group of international mediators on Tehran's nuclear program, the Russian foreign minister said Wednesday.

Turkey and Brazil are not joining talks led by the Iran Six group of international mediators on Tehran's nuclear program, the Russian foreign minister said Wednesday.

"There have been no discussions on the issue," Sergei Lavrov said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic wanted Turkey and Brazil to participate in the talks.

The Iran Six consists of Russia, the United States, China, France, Britain and Germany.

The West suspects Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, but the country says it needs nuclear power solely for civilian purposes. A new round of talks is due in September.

"The UN Security Council has recognized the Iran Six as an informal leader to consider the settlement of all aspects relating to the Iranian nuclear program. But at the same time it is clear that a number of other countries are interested in helping settle this rather old issue peacefully. Brazil and Turkey are among them," Lavrov said.

He said the initiatives of Brazil and Turkey relate to a scheme to deliver fuel for the Tehran research reactor.

On June 9, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1929 imposing a fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in early July Tehran was ready to resume dialogue with the Iran Six, but would put off talks until the end of August in order to "punish" the West for imposing fresh sanctions. He also said new sanctions would not affect the country's nuclear program.

International pressure on Iran increased in early February when Tehran announced it had begun enriching uranium to 20% in lieu of an agreement on an exchange that would provide it with fuel for a research reactor.

Iran says it needs 20% enriched uranium for the Tehran research reactor and for production of isotopes used in medicine.

 

MOSCOW, July 14 (RIA Novosti)

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