MOSCOW — The first round of Moscow talks on the Russian proposal to set up a joint venture on Russian soil to enrich uranium for Iran has been postponed in an expected move totally in line with Tehran's logic of keeping its mouth shut and avoiding unambiguous answers.

What the world has been expecting from Iran — a "yes" or "no" in response to the Russian initiative — now seems a remote possibility anytime soon. Iran will hardly say such a "yes" that could not be reverted into a "no" at a later stage.

Although Tehran declares its nuclear program is totally peaceful, its ambition to have access to a full nuclear fuel cycle, from primary enrichment operations to spent fuel management, suggests a level of nuclear technology where a nuclear bomb becomes a matter of political will rather than physical ability.

Russia's proposal could have allayed Western fears over Iranian nuclear ambitions, but in effect, denies Iran access to a full nuclear cycle and leaves it dependent on foreign-produced ready-to-use fuel. Iran, accordingly, seems to have dug in its heels on not reaching out to the West and keeping others in the dark. Tehran even takes little notice of Russia's concern and certainly does not align its assessment of the talks with Moscow.

Despite Russia's great hopes and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's promise to President Vladimir Putin that Moscow would try to break free from the deadlock on this issue and avoid any scenario that could involve the use of force, Russian negotiators seem no less worried in the wake of the first round.

Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's Federal Agency for Nuclear Power, who is planning a visit to Iran, said that the talks on a Russian-based joint venture would be continued.

"Russia will do its best to give (Iran) a peaceful and constructive face-saving opportunity," he said.

Tehran has described the past round of talks as "positive and constructive." Dr. Seyyed Ali Hosseini Tash, second-in-command at Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the best result of the talks was that a U.N. Security Council referral was seen as "not a constructive move" and it was up to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear watchdog, to make ultimate decisions on the issue.

In other words, Iran still wishes to hide behind Russia's back, but Moscow's West-supported criticism grows. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, said Iran could have shown more goodwill in resolving the dispute around its nuclear program. Russia does not want to be left doing everything alone, he said.

"It takes two to tango. Russia, dependent on — if not taken hostage by — Iran's reluctance to show good or evil will, has not seen much good will so far," the Russian lawmaker said. He warned of a North Korea-style scenario with Iran withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and refusing to cooperate with the IAEA.

"I am afraid this will do the international community more harm than good, so we need to use a chance as long as it is there. This is what Russia is doing now," Kosachev said.

However, the provisional outcome of the Moscow talks over Tehran's nuclear file suggests that Russia is apparently still the only party ready for a tango.