Iran wants new nuclear fuel talks

Iran wants more talks on a UN-drafted nuclear deal and prefers to import atomic fuel rather than send its own uranium abroad for processing, a senior official said, suggesting terms world powers are likely to rebuff.

Western powers have urged Iran to accept a draft deal in which it would send most of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad by the end of the year for further enrichment to turn it into fuel for a medical reactor in Tehran.

But Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh told Reuters yesterday that more talks were needed “in order to ensure that our technical concerns, and especially the issue of the guarantee of the fuel supply, are taken into consideration”.

Iran’s requests will add to doubts that a way out of a standoff with big powers will be found soon.

Tehran appears to be stalling after appearing ready to make concessions to the international community, which is threatening to impose new sanctions over fears that Iran is pursuing an atomic weapons programme.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency urged Iran to accept the deal with the United States, France and Russia so Tehran can help build confidence in its atomic work.

“The issue at stake remains that of mutual guarantees among the parties,” IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei told the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I should add, however, that trust and confidence-building are an incremental process that requires focusing on the big picture and a willingness to take risks for peace.”

Iran says its enrichment programme is purely peaceful and officials have voiced misgivings about parting with the bulk of Iran’s LEU, seen as a strategic asset and key bargaining chip.

“We are ready for the next round of technical discussions in Vienna at the IAEA headquarters,” Mr Soltanieh said by telephone, adding that the IAEA should now arrange a date.

Iran’s UN Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee did not mention the fuel proposal in his speech to the General Assembly, which was meeting to discuss the annual report of the IAEA. Western powers have signalled that their patience is limited and that they will consider new sanctions early next year if Iran does not make its nuclear work more transparent.

France and Germany urged Iran to accept Dr ElBaradei’s deal, echoing earlier comments from Britain and Russia.

“We are waiting for a reply. If the reply is aimed at delaying matters, as we believe, then we will not accept it,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told a news conference in Paris with German counterpart Guido Westerwelle. The plan, backed by the other participants, aims to reduce Iran’s LEU stockpile below the minimum quantity that could be turned into the highly enriched uranium needed for a bomb.

“We are ready to buy the fuel from any supplier under the full scope of safeguards and surveillance of the IAEA,” said Mr Soltanieh, Tehran’s veteran ambassador to the atomic watchdog.

“The core issue is the assurance and guarantee of the supply, keeping in mind the past confidence deficit where we did not receive the fuel we had paid for,” he said, alluding to supply deals that fell through after the Islamic Revolution.