Iran alters position on nuclear file

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that his country is ready to send part of its uranium stock abroad for further enrichment, as proposed by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ahmadinejad said on state television that Iran would have "no problem" if most of its uranium was held for several months before being returned as fuel rods. Until now Tehran always refused to accept the proposal, and if confirmed the move would mark a major shift in Tehran's position, WJC reported.



Last month, Iran had informed the IAEA that it could not accept the terms of the deal, which was agreed in October 2009 between the IAEA and the so-called Group of Six Nations – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. It envisages that Iran send about two thirds of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel for a research reactor.



In his interview, Ahmadinejad dismissed the concerns of his "colleagues" that the West would not return the uranium, saying Iran would respond by producing more. "We have no problem sending our enriched uranium abroad," he said, adding: "We say: We will give you our 3.5 percent enriched uranium and will get the fuel. It may take four to five months until we get the fuel. If we send our enriched uranium abroad and then they do not give us the 20% enriched fuel for our reactor, we are capable of producing it inside Iran."



In Washington, the US administration said that if this was a new offer, it was "prepared to listen". In a first reaction, US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the US was "not prepared to change the deal. We are not interested in renegotiating it". In a later response, a White House official told the BBC: "If Mr. Ahmadinejad's comments reflect an updated Iranian position, we look forward to Iran informing the IAEA."



The International Atomic Energy Agency is the world’s center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world’s "Atoms for Peace" organization in 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.



The IAEA Secretariat is headquartered at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. Operational liaison and regional offices are located in Geneva, Switzerland; New York, USA; Toronto, Canada; and Tokyo, Japan. The IAEA runs or supports research centers and scientific laboratories in Vienna and Seibersdorf, Austria; Monaco; and Trieste, Italy. See Offices and Contacts.



The IAEA Secretariat is a team of 2200 multi-disciplinary professional and support staff from more than 90 countries. The Agency is led by Director General Yukiya Amano and six Deputy Directors General who head the major departments. See IAEA Staff.



IAEA programs and budgets are set through decisions of its policymaking bodies - the 35-member Board of Governors and the General Conference of all Member States. Reports on IAEA activities are submitted periodically or as cases warrant to the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly.



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