Iran threatens to drop nuclear fuel deal

Iran could abandon a nuclear fuel deal, which it says recognises Tehran's right to enrich uranium, if world powers do not accept it in full, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said yesterday.

"Parliament backs the Tehran Declaration (on a fuel swap deal) in its entirety. If they seek to consider it partially, the house will not accept that," Larijani said, quoted by the state IRNA news agency.

"It will not be compatible with the Tehran Declaration if they have extra demands and pursue deception," he said, without elaborating.

A deal brokered last week by Brazil and Turkey to ship half of Iran's low- enriched to Turkey for a swap with reactor fuel recognises Tehran's right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, according to a joint declaration carried by Iranian media.

But the UN Security Council has called on Iran to halt uranium enrichment in five resolutions, and world powers led by the US are seeking further sanctions against Tehran over its defiance.

Larijani insisted the deal has "things to offer for us and for the other party, and it is a logical framework for talks."