Iran agrees to exchange of nuke material
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
BEIRUT, May 17 (Internet): In what could be a stunning breakthrough in the years-long diplomatic deadlock over Iran's nuclear program, Tehran has agreed to send the bulk of its nuclear material to Turkey as part of an exchange meant to ease international concerns about the Islamic Republic's aims and provide fuel for an ailing medical reactor, the spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry told state television Monday morning.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told state television that a letter describing the deal would be sent to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency within a week.
"After a final agreement is signed between Iran and the Vienna group, our fuel will be shipped to Turkey under the supervision of Iran and the IAEA," he told journalists on the sidelines of a conference of developing nations. "Then we will dispatch 1,200 kilogrammes (2,640 pounds) of 3.5 per cent enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilogrammes (264 pounds) of 20 per cent enriched uranium from the Vienna group."
The Vienna group refers to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China -- and Germany, which engaged in talks with Iran last October.
The deal was brokered during an 18-hour session Sunday by leaders of Brazil and Turkey during a visit to Tehran. A joint statement was signed by the foreign ministers of all three countries and witnessed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, state radio reported.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told state television that a letter describing the deal would be sent to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency within a week.
"After a final agreement is signed between Iran and the Vienna group, our fuel will be shipped to Turkey under the supervision of Iran and the IAEA," he told journalists on the sidelines of a conference of developing nations. "Then we will dispatch 1,200 kilogrammes (2,640 pounds) of 3.5 per cent enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilogrammes (264 pounds) of 20 per cent enriched uranium from the Vienna group."
The Vienna group refers to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China -- and Germany, which engaged in talks with Iran last October.
The deal was brokered during an 18-hour session Sunday by leaders of Brazil and Turkey during a visit to Tehran. A joint statement was signed by the foreign ministers of all three countries and witnessed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, state radio reported.