ElBaradei set Friday as the deadline for the four powers to accept or reject the proposal [EPA]

The US, Russia and France all met Friday's deadline and agreed to the proposal for most of Iran's low-enriched uranium (LEU) to be sent abroad.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said: "Iran is precisely examining different dimensions of the contents of the proposed agreement about the provisional supply of fuel for the Tehran research reactor.

"After final evaluation, I will give the result to Mr ElBaradei [the IAEA director-general] when I return to Vienna next week."

Following Tehran's announcement, ElBaradei said he hoped Iran's response would be positive as it was important for a new "era of co-operation".

'Not positive'

The deal on Iran's LEU was brokered by the IAEA at a meeting involving all four countries in Vienna, Austria, at a meeting on Wednesday.

Earlier on Friday, Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, had said indications that Iran would sign up to the deal were "not positive".

"I do not know what the results in Vienna today are, but the signs we received [from Iran] this morning are not positive. It is a pity," he said.

"France hopes a peaceful solution ... will be found and accepted and that nuclear development is not used for military purposes. That much is clear."

ElBaradei set Friday as the deadline for the four powers to sign the arrangement after their meeting on Wednesday.

The US and its allies are hoping to secure Iran's approval to ease Western fears about Iran's suspected ambition to make a nuclear weapon - a charge Tehran denies.

The US will wait a few days for Iran's response to the offer, President Barack Obama's administration said on Friday.

"I think we can stretch things a few days," Ian Kelly, the US state department spokesman, said. "But we're not going to wait forever."

"This is a real opportunity for Iran to help address some of the real concerns of the international community about its nuclear program and at the same time still provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iranian people."

Iranian proposals

Iranian state television reported on Friday that Tehran wanted to buy nuclear fuel for a research reactor rather than accept the drafted plan, but did not officially reject the IAEA proposal.

"Iran is interested in buying fuel for the Tehran research reactor within the framework of a clear proposal ... we are waiting for the other party's constructive and trust-building response," a member of its negotiating team was quoted as saying.

Martin Navias, a defence analyst from London's Kings College, said that nuclear powers such as France would be able to provide Iran with fuels for its research reactor.

"The problem is that Iran seems to be offering this in exchange for the present deal.

"What seems to be happening in Tehran is that the authorities are fearful that once that material is out of the country, it may not come back, or it may be held back in order to Iran. So they're getting cold feet about it."

Iranian opposition to the UN plan could be driven by concerns that it would weaken Iran's control over its stockpiles of nuclear fuel and could be perceived as a concession to the US.

Iran has reportedly called for responses to its own proposals on its nuclear programme, although details of this were not made available.

"Now we are awaiting a positive and constructive response on Iran's proposal from the other party on providing nuclear fuel for Tehran's reactor," Iranian state television quoted a member of Iran's team at the IAEA as saying.

Iran's choice

A source close to Saeed Jalili, Iran's senior nuclear negotiator, said that it will not agree to give away 75 per cent of its enriched uranium stockpile, which is recommended under the proposal.

The plan is being seen by the international community as a way to curb Iran's ability to build a nuclear weapon, which it denies it plans to do.

Exact details of ElBaradei's arrangement are not yet known, but diplomats say it calls on Iran to hand over 1,200kg of the low-enriched uranium it has to Russia by the end of the year.

Russia would enrich the material to the 19.75 per cent needed to use it in a research reactor that makes radio-isotopes for medical use.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto:

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Homepage
Title:
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4