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Talks with Iran reportedly at a standstillDespite disagreeing on sanctions, Russia, U.S. express solidarity
(CNN) -- The United States and Russia announced their joint resolve Tuesday to solve the nuclear situation in Iran, but both declined to elaborate on whether their friendly relationship could dissolve if the United Nations hands down sanctions against the Islamic republic. Russia and the United States also denied claims by high-ranking diplomats with the International Atomic Energy Agency that Russia was floating a proposal to let the Iranians enrich uranium on their own soil. After meeting in Washington with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters that "the Russians did not tell us of any new proposal they made to the Iranians." Iran insists that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. The United States leads a chorus of nations expressing concern that Tehran could have its eye on developing nuclear weapons. Those concerns were stoked by assertions by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in October that Israel should be "wiped off the map." Russia, in an effort to defuse the situation, had offered to enrich uranium on Russian soil then ship it to Tehran. Diplomats with the Vienna, Austria-based IAEA, who convened this week for a board of governors meeting to hammer out a solution to the nuclear standoff, told CNN that the Russians modified their proposal, and the United States flatly shot it down. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei referred to the new proposal Monday when he said a deal was in the works that could save Iran from facing sanctions in the U.N. Security Council, the diplomats said. When reports of a tweaked proposal surfaced, the United States and Russia quickly joined forces to deny them. No 'new Russian proposal'U.S. officials in Vienna released a statement saying that Russia stands firmly with the United States and EU3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- on the issue. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, echoed that sentiment Tuesday, saying, "There is no compromise, new Russian proposal." Lavrov said that the initial proposal to enrich uranium in Russia is still on the table, and Rice added that the U.S. remains adamant "that enrichment and reprocessing on Iranian soil is not acceptable because of the proliferation risk." Russia's original plan would require that Iran halt all nuclear enrichment within its borders and honor a moratorium on testing. That doesn't sit well in Tehran, which has threatened to amp up its operations if sanctions are imposed. ElBaradei is scheduled to present his report on Iran to the IAEA board Wednesday, after which the matter will be handed to the Security Council. The Security Council last month agreed not to take any action against Iran until it sees ElBaradei's report. The 12-page report states that the Iranians are testing 20 centrifuges and enriching uranium in 10 others, well shy of the thousands that would be required to produce enough fuel for nuclear weapons. If the Security Council administers sanctions against the Islamic republic, it could create a rift between the United States and two fellow permanent members of the council, Russia and China. The two nations repeatedly have voiced their opposition to sanctions. Asked about possible sanctions, Rice said to wait until the matter is reported to the Security Council, "and then we will see what is necessary to do." She also said, "There is still time, of course, for the Iranians to react." Lavrov, too, was vague about the possibility of sanctions, saying, "We will have to consider each situation at its merits." Pressed on whether Russia would support sanctions, Lavrov seemed to grow weary of the question. "Have you seen a proposal for any sanctions? This is a hypothetical question," he answered before saying, "Thank you," and walking away. Cheney talks of sanctionsSpeaking Tuesday to a pro-Israel lobbying organization that staunchly opposes Iran's nuclear ambitions, Vice President Dick Cheney was less ambiguous. All options remain on the table, Cheney told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. But, he said, if Iran refuses to halt its enrichment program "the international community is ready to impose meaningful consequences." (Full story) The original Russian proposal is considered the last shot at diplomacy before the Security Council addresses the issue. The Russians met with Iranian officials last week in Moscow to discuss the proposal, and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, met with the EU3 to discuss it. European officials said afterward the meetings yielded no developments. Talks with Iran stalled in January when the nation began small-scale uranium enrichment and ended its voluntary cooperation with the IAEA, which had been conducting surprise inspections. The United States and European Union demanded that Iran reconsider its decision, but Tehran accused the West of holding it to higher standards than it does the rest of the world. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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