The top Russian nuclear industry official said the center could be set up under the control of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"If Iran is unable to enrich uranium on its territory, then Russia is ready to offer its territory for setting up such a joint venture," Sergei Kiriyenko said.

Kiriyenko, the head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Power, said the proposal should be considered as a part of all the proposals on resolving the situation around Iran's controversial nuclear programs.

"This proposal will not work alone because it works only as a part of the portfolio," he said.

Some countries suspect Iran of pursuing a covert weapons program, but Tehran has consistently denied the allegation saying it needs nuclear energy for electricity.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has been trying to persuade Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities. But the talks have produced no deal so far, prompting the United States and the United Kingdom to renew their calls for UN sanctions against Iran. Russia and China, two of the Security Council's five permanent members, have opposed the introduction of sanctions.

Kiriyenko said Russia had no commercial interest in the joint venture and the proposal should be seen as part of efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem.

"We have no need to set up such a joint venture, as, thank God, we have 40% of world's enrichment capacities and we do not need investment in our enrichment industry," he said. "Our proposals are our contribution to the possible resolution of the situation."

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