Iran doesn't need Paris at nuclear fuel talks: FM

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that Iran does not need France to take part in the Vienna talks over supplying nuclear fuel to the Islamic republic.

Iran has proposed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it requires fuel for its research reactor in Tehran, he said.

"The agency contacted some countries and the United States and Russia accepted to participate in the negotiations to supply the fuel," Mottaki told reporters at a press conference.

"The negotiations will be conducted with these two countries in the presence of the agency. We do not need a lot of fuel and we do not need the presence of many countries. There is no need for France to be present."

France along with Russia and the United States has been taking part in the meetings which opened on Monday at the IAEA headquarters in the Austrian capital.

U.N. watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said the talks got off to a "constructive" start though no breakthrough was announced.

"We had this afternoon quite a constructive meeting. We're off to a good start. Most of the technical issues have been discussed," ElBaradei said after the meeting.

The negotiations will be conducted with these two countries in the presence of the agency. We do not need a lot of fuel and we do not need the presence of many countries. There is no need for France to be present

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki

Uranium enrichment

Iran has 1,500 kilograms of low-enriched uranium at its plant in Natanz, in defiance of three rounds of U.N. sanctions to back demands that it halt all enrichment activity.

But it needs a higher level of enrichment to run a research reactor in Tehran, which makes isotopes needed for medical use such as cancer treatment.

Western powers suspect Iran has embarked on research to build a nuclear bomb. Iran has denied the claims, but has been accused by the IAEA of not cooperating with IAEA efforts to determine whether its atomic program is peaceful.

Under the proposal, Iran will be required to hand over most of its uranium which many Western nations say is being built up to develop a nuclear bomb.

We had this afternoon quite a constructive meeting. We're off to a good start. Most of the technical issues have been discussed

IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei

Diplomats have described the uranium proposal as a "win-win" solution: the Iranians would get the fuel they needed, while at the same time, Western fears would be allayed that the material could be used to make a bomb.

Before the talks, Tehran vowed to step up uranium enrichment if it does not get what it wants from the negotiations.

The talks are the latest attempt by the international powers to restrict Iran's nuclear drive. The U.N. Security Council has already imposed three rounds of sanctions on Iran for refusing to stop its enrichment.

Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States have led the talks with Iran which resumed on Oct. 1 in Geneva after a 14-month hiatus.

Iran agreed during the talks in Geneva to consider sending low-enriched uranium abroad for further purification and subsequent return to Iran.

Western powers have threatened to move for more sanctions unless Iran falls in line with U.N. resolutions.