"We have noted the public announcement by the Iranian authorities marking their new readiness to seriously study these Russian proposals," foreign ministry spokesman Denis Simmoneau told reporters.

"Time is now pressing and it is up to Iran to take the necessary decisions to relaunch a negotiating process, in line with the wishes of the international community."

France, Germany and Britain have been leading tortuous negotiations with Tehran on behalf of the European Union aimed at ensuring that the country does not use civilian nuclear technology for covert weapons development.

Moscow's latest proposal attacks the key sticking point in talks between Iran and the European Union over Iran's nuclear programme.

It would allow Iran to conduct uranium enrichment outside the country in Russia, giving Iran access to the nuclear fuel cycle but providing a guarantee its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Iran this week agreed to study the offer, after long maintaining that it would only look at proposals that accepted its right to conduct uranium enrichment on its own soil.

The Russian offer has been seen as a possible compromise solution that would see Iran satisfying its EU negotiating partners while retaining a right to enrichment and staving off the threat of UN Security Council sanctions.

Simonneau commented that the Russian proposal included "certain interesting ideas that are in line with European proposals".

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