The Iranian leadership is prepared to accept Russia's proposal for upbuilding a joint uranium enrichment joint venture, State Duma Deputy Speaker Yuri Volkov said Friday at the end of his three-day visit to Iran with a parliamentary delegation.

During the visit Russian legislators held talks with officials at a number of key Iranian departments and agencies, including the foreign, oil and energy ministries, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Friday.

Volkov said that the Russian delegation discussed with the Iranian side the most sensitive issues of political and economic cooperation. "The Bushehr nuclear power plant construction was the focus of attention," he said.

According to Volkov, the radicals in the Iranian leadership have been saying that "if Moscow refuses to finalize the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction, this would be tantamount to the ultimate betrayal of Iran's interests."

He pointed out that "these circles should not have the slightest chance of getting an extra argument in favor of Iran's self-isolation and open confrontation with the leading countries of the world."

About Iran's nuclear program Volkov said that Iranian parliamentary speaker Gholamali Haddad-Adel had told the Russian legislators the Iranians were very glad about the idea of a uranium enrichment joint venture project.

At the same time Iran has no intention to give up its right to produce uranium fuel on its own for peaceful purposes in strict compliance with the nuclear arms nonproliferation treaty, said the deputy speaker.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2006)