Iran still open to nuclear deal

Iran is still open to talks with the international community over fuel supplies for a Tehran nuclear reactor, despite the country's apparent rejection of a UN plan to curb its enriched uranium stockpile.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, said Sunday that Tehran "welcomes" talks on the nuclear issue with the five permanent UN Security Council members, plus Germany.

Russia is part of the UN effort, to ensure Iran doesn't use its nuclear program for weapon-making purposes. Moscow has warned that it could back new sanctions.

Iran, which says its nuclear work is peaceful, has not yet given a final response to the UN proposal, and has come up instead, with its own request to buy nuclear fuel from abroad.