MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) -- Tehran will put its signature to the protocol on the return of spent nuclear fuel to Russia, Iran's ambassador in Moscow, Gholam-Reza Shafei has told Tass in an interview.

Both countries have agreed to sign an agreement spent nuclear fuel would be returned to Russia. "Negotiations are currently in progress on coordinating technicalities. We are hoping the protocol will be signed soon in Tehran or Moscow."

Gholam-Reza Shafei expressed the hope Russia and Iran would continue their peaceful cooperation in the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction project.

"All work there has been conducted in compliance with international agreements and rules. We are hoping the work will proceed on time, and bilateral cooperation will continue further on," he added.

Tehran will declare its position soon on the signing of a protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency, he added.

According to the diplomat Iran said before the IAEA General Conference, it would consider the signing of a supplementary protocol in the positive vein.

"It was in this connection that we declared our readiness to start negotiations with the agency".

At the same time Tehran said it wanted clarity on issues concerning its national security before the protocol is signed. Thorough inquiries have been made in this direction. "In view of the successful results of the IAEA leadership's recent visit to Iran it should be expected that the Iranian government would announce its official position on the issue," he concluded