Russian and Iranian officials agreed to continue the negotiations on Moscow's uranium enrichment proposal on Monday after wrapping up a day of talks, but they did not announce a firm date for further discussion.

"The talks with the Iranian delegation in the Kremlin has concluded ... An agreement was reached to continue the talks," the press service of the Russian Security Council was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Monday's talks were held behind closed doors and led by the deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, Valentin Sobolev, and the deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Hosseinitash. After the talks, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov met the Iranian officials.

The Russian Security Council gave no indication of when or where the talks would resume. But the Foreign Ministry said talks may be continued on Tuesday in Moscow. The Iranian delegation is reportedly to head home on Tuesday.

The talks focused on the Russian proposal to shift Iran's uranium enrichment activities to Russian territory. Western countries have backed Moscow's compromise plan, saying it could help allay concerns over Iran potentially producing weapons-grade nuclear material.

Uranium enriched at low levels can fuel nuclear reactors, but if highly enriched it can be used for nuclear bombs.

The Russian plan is seen as a crucial attempt to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program before a March 6 meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, which reports say could start a process leading to UN punishment against Iran.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the talks that the discussion with Iran could allow the nuclear issue to stay within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Chances remain for keeping the situation within the framework of the IAEA," Lavrov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. "It is too early to speak about the results yet," as the negotiations are continuing, he added.

Lavrov urged Iran to resume the moratorium on uranium enrichment on its soil.

Before the talks started, Lavrov expressed cautious optimism, saying Russia has "reserved expectations" over the negotiations.

But Russia "will be making every effort to prevent the situation from deteriorating and from stepping on a track leading to the use of force," he said.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, on a visit to Brussels to meet senior European Union officials, offered new hope for progress on the impasse by saying his country would consider Russia's proposal.

"In the Russian proposal, some main elements should be considered as well as participants to the project, (such as) place or places of enrichment, period of implementation of this project," Mottaki told a press conference on Monday.

But he insisted that Iran should be allowed to continue its nuclear research and development activities.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2006)