TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki expressed hope on Monday that the February 2 extraordinary session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors would proceed in a manner leading to a situation manageable for both the IAEA and Iran.

In a joint press conference with the Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani, Mottaki said Iran has been trying to prove to the IAEA board members, the European troika (Britain, Germany and France), China, Russia and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) members that the nuclear research, which Iran recently resumed, is a purely scientific activity which is quite separate from nuclear fuel production.

On the proposal by Moscow to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian soil and a possible involvement of China in the joint project, Mottaki noted that Tehran has informed Moscow of its suggestion to increase its partners in the project. He added that China or any other country could join in.

He said Iran has invited the European troika in a letter to return to talks, adding that a “bridge of friendship” could be reached by respecting Iran’s legal and inalienable right to nuclear technology and by removing concerns it could divert toward an atomic arms program.

Mottaki stressed that Iran did not fear Western threats over its nuclear program and vowed to pursue uranium enrichment if taken to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, Reuters reported.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the foreign minister said economic and political ties between Iran and Qatar are growing.

The Qatari official, for his part said that the two sides have agreed to take positive and practicable steps in order to expand economic relations.