Iran Demands "Objective Guarantees" on Nuclear Fuel Exchange

Tuesday Iranian officials said, the country is not opposed to sending its low-grade uranium abroad. Iran, however, requires "objective guarantees" on nuclear fuel exchange.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a press conference in Tehran Tuesday that his country is not opposed to sending its low-enriched uranium abroad, but demands 100 percent guarantees for a nuclear fuel deal and the process needs further review by Iran.

Mehmanparast said Iran demands 100 percent guarantees of receiving nuclear fuel made from higher-enriched uranium for a research reactor in Tehran.

The state-run IRNA news agency reported, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Saeed Jalili also said Iran needs to receive "objective guarantees" for supplying nuclear fuel for the research reactor, Xinhua reports.

it was also reported, Iran has so far resisted a proposed U.N.-backed deal intended to ease Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear program.

Under that plan, Iran would send more than 70 percent of its low-enriched uranium stockpile to Russia and France. The uranium would be converted into fuel rods and returned to Iran in about a year for use in an Iranian medical research reactor.

Western nations say Iran's nuclear program is aimed at creating weapons, but Tehran insists it is for peaceful purposes.

The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany, are considering tougher measures against Iran for stalling on the deal. But China and Russia are reluctant to put on more pressure, Voice of America reports.

Meanwhile, in Vienna diplomats say six world powers have prepared a resolution critical of Iran's nuclear program for the next board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

They say the draft calls on Iran to be more open about its program following its recent revelation that it had nearly completed a new uranium enrichment facility in secret.

The two diplomats say the draft urges Iran to stop stonewalling an IAEA probe of allegations it tried to develop nuclear weapons. It calls on Tehran to answer all outstanding questions on that enrichment facility and comply with U.N. Security Council demands that it suspend enrichment and further construction of the plant, The Associated Press reports.

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