KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies)
The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog Mohammad ElBaradei called on Iran to respond "soon" to IAEA proposal for fuel for Tehran nuclear reactor as Iran said it wants a technical panel to review a plan that envisages sending most of its uranium stockpile to Russia for enrichment.
Under a U.S.-backed plan, Iran would send most of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad for further processing to turn it into more refined fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
"Two days ago, we passed our views and observations to the IAEA, so it is very much possible to establish a technical commission to review and reconsider all these issues," Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters at a meeting of foreign ministers from eight developing countries.
" We have considered these proposals. We have some technical and economic considerations on that " Iranian Foreign Minister Maniuchehr Mottaki The statement could be seen as a softening of Iran's stand after senior Iranian lawmakers rejected the plan on Saturday. Earlier last week, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said his government will persist with its nuclear program despite international concerns.
The U.N.-brokered plan would require Iran to send about 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms) -- or 70 percent of its low-grade uranium stockpile -- to Russia in one batch by year's end for processing. Subsequently, France would convert the uranium into fuel rods that would be returned to Iran for use in a reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes.
The plan aims to reduce Iran's LEU stockpile in order to prevent the material from being turned into highly enriched uranium needed for a nuclear bomb.
"We have considered these proposals. We have some technical and economic considerations on that," he said.
Mottaki, speaking through a translator, said Iran would "continue enrichment" for its nuclear needs.
Asked about U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comments that Western powers are getting impatient with Iran over the nuclear deal, Mottaki replied: "Really?"
If Iran accepts the U.N.-backed plan, it would not be able to replenish its stockpile to levels that would again yield enough enriched uranium for further enrichment into weapons-grade material for about a year.
It is relatively simple to turn fuel-grade uranium into weapons-grade material. The West fears Tehran wants to do just that although Ahmadinejad's government says it is not interested in nuclear arms and wants only to create fuel for a planned network of reactors. |
