Iran Says Studying New Nuclear Fuel Deal
Source: VOA
Iran
says it is studying new proposals for a nuclear fuel deal from the United
States, Russia and France, though Paris denies that any new offers were made.
Iranian media (ILNA) Monday quote the head of
Iran's Atomic Energy organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, as saying the proposals
were received after Tehran announced it was enriching its own uranium to a
higher level.
French foreign ministry spokesperson Bernard Valero dismissed Salehi's claim,
saying the only proposition to Iran is the one presented by the International
Atomic Energy Agency last October.
Iran has given mixed signals on whether it will accept that proposal. The deal
would have Iran ship uranium abroad for further enrichment, to ease concerns
about its ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
Last week, Iran said it began the process of enriching uranium to 20 percent in
order to power a medical research reactor.
The move raised concerns that Iran could eventually enrich uranium to a high
enough level that it could be used in a nuclear weapon. And Iranian officials
have claimed they have the capacity to do so.
However, Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Iran is under three sets of sanctions from the U.N. Security Council for its
refusal to halt its uranium enrichment process. The United States and other
world powers are pushing for a fourth round.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Related articles:
- Iran's Nuclear Program. Part I: Its History
- Iran's Nuclear Program. Part II: Are Nuclear Reactors Necessary?
- Iran's Nuclear Program. Part III: The Emerging Crisis
-
Iran's
Nuclear Energy Program. Part IV: Economic Analysis of the Program
Iran's Nuclear Energy Program. Part V: From the United States Offering Iran Uranium Enrichment Technology to Suggestions for Creating Catastrophic Industrial Failure
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