KUALA LUMPUR – In the first official reaction to a UN-drafted nuclear proposal, Iran called Monday, November 2, for a review of the deal that aims to send its uranium stockpile abroad for enrichment. "We have considered this proposal,” Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said during a visit to the Malaysian capital, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“We have some technical and economic considerations on that."
Mottaki said Tehran wants the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to form a committee to review the deal.
"Two days ago we passed our views and observations to the IAEA,” he said.
“So it is very much possible to establish a technical commission to review and reconsider all these issues."
Mottaki did not elaborate.
The UN has proposed allowing Iran to send its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for conversion into fuel and sent back to Tehran.
The proposal calls for Iran to export to Russia more than 2,640 pounds (1,200 kilos) of its 3.5 percent low-enriched uranium (LEU) for refining up to 20 percent to fuel the nuclear reactor in the central city of Natanz that makes medical isotopes.
France would then fashion the material into fuel rods for the reactor.
The IAEA said Thursday that it has received an “initial response” from Iran to the deal.
But the official Iranian news service IRNA said that the response was not Tehran's "answer" to the UN-backed plan.
IRNA also reported, quoting an unnamed informed source, that the Islamic Republic was "ready" to have more negotiations on the project.
The West accuses Tehran of developing a secret nuclear weapons program.
Iran insists that its nuclear program only aims at procuring power to feed an increasing local consumption.
Options
The chief Iranian diplomat denied that Tehran has rejected the UN deal.
“No,” he replied when asked if the review meant Tehran rejected the deal.
Mottaki said Iran would "continue enrichment" for nuclear power stations requiring fuel.
He said Iran had three options to obtain fuel for its reactor, which has been operating for 40 years.
Tehran could buy fuel from other countries, enrich its uranium itself, or have the fuel processed by another country, he said.
Iran has been enriching uranium -- the most controversial aspect of its nuclear project -- for several years at the Natanz reactor.
Uranium enrichment is the focus of Western concern that Iran's ultimate aim is to manufacture a nuclear weapon, a charge strongly denied by Tehran.
Refined uranium can be used to fuel nuclear power plants and also to provide material for nuclear bombs if enriched further.
Source: IslamOnline
“We have some technical and economic considerations on that."
Mottaki said Tehran wants the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to form a committee to review the deal.
"Two days ago we passed our views and observations to the IAEA,” he said.
“So it is very much possible to establish a technical commission to review and reconsider all these issues."
Mottaki did not elaborate.
The UN has proposed allowing Iran to send its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for conversion into fuel and sent back to Tehran.
The proposal calls for Iran to export to Russia more than 2,640 pounds (1,200 kilos) of its 3.5 percent low-enriched uranium (LEU) for refining up to 20 percent to fuel the nuclear reactor in the central city of Natanz that makes medical isotopes.
France would then fashion the material into fuel rods for the reactor.
The IAEA said Thursday that it has received an “initial response” from Iran to the deal.
But the official Iranian news service IRNA said that the response was not Tehran's "answer" to the UN-backed plan.
IRNA also reported, quoting an unnamed informed source, that the Islamic Republic was "ready" to have more negotiations on the project.
The West accuses Tehran of developing a secret nuclear weapons program.
Iran insists that its nuclear program only aims at procuring power to feed an increasing local consumption.
Options
The chief Iranian diplomat denied that Tehran has rejected the UN deal.
“No,” he replied when asked if the review meant Tehran rejected the deal.
Mottaki said Iran would "continue enrichment" for nuclear power stations requiring fuel.
He said Iran had three options to obtain fuel for its reactor, which has been operating for 40 years.
Tehran could buy fuel from other countries, enrich its uranium itself, or have the fuel processed by another country, he said.
Iran has been enriching uranium -- the most controversial aspect of its nuclear project -- for several years at the Natanz reactor.
Uranium enrichment is the focus of Western concern that Iran's ultimate aim is to manufacture a nuclear weapon, a charge strongly denied by Tehran.
Refined uranium can be used to fuel nuclear power plants and also to provide material for nuclear bombs if enriched further.
Source: IslamOnline
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