Iran and IAEA agreed on nuclear fuel exchange formula

Iran and IAEA agreed on nuclear fuel exchange formula
06.02.2010 13:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran and IAEA agreed on a formula for sharing
low-enriched uranium to 20 per cent enriched overseas, but the details
have to be agreed yet: the exchange time, place and quantity, Iranian
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said after a meeting with the RF
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov in Munich.

"The main thing that both sides recognize the formula for the exchange
of fuel," he said. Mottaki called the remaining details as "three key
elements", which would guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear
program.

"Time is required to enrich uranium to 20 per cent and our colleagues
in negotiations agree with this," Mottaki said. He suggested that it
will likely take five to six months to produce the enriched uranium
abroad.

"We agree and cannot wait until everything is ready, and we can
exchange 3.5 per cent uranium to 20 per cent," Foreign Minister of
Iran explained.

Mottaki did not give a specific answer which country can enrich fuel
for Iran, saying that the "enrichment under the supervision of the
International Atomic Energy Agency" can be one of the options.

"We hope that all parties can demonstrate a political will to
implement this formula," Iranian Foreign Minister said.

In his turn, Sergei Lavrov, in a separate interview with reporters
said that they discussed with Mottaki various options for the program
implementation about the additional enrichment of Iranian uranium
abroad, launched in Geneva by Six negotiators (the five permanent UN
Security Council members and Germany) together with IAEA.

"I hope that after today’s talk there is a chance that we will find a
scheme of reloading of the research reactor in Tehran, and it will be
implemented", Lavrov said, RIA Novosti reported.

Iran and IAEA agreed on a formula for sharing of low-enriched uranium
for enriched to 20 per cent abroad, Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference.