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Iran 'doubts' over nuclear deal Iran uranium deal talks 'go well'
(about 5 hours later)
Iran appears to be backing away from a proposed deal to resolve the crisis over its nuclear programme, Iranian media reports suggest. Talks between Iran and world powers on a uranium enrichment deal are "off to a good start", the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has said.
A state TV channel said Iran wanted to import fuel for its research reactor, without sending its own enriched uranium out of the country. Russia, France and the US were at the IAEA meeting in Vienna.
Russia, France and the US are preparing for talks with Iran on sending its uranium abroad for enrichment. Under a proposed deal, Iran would ship enriched uranium abroad to be converted for use in a research reactor.
Iran had agreed in principle to have some uranium shipped out. Tehran sent a lower-level delegation led by its IAEA envoy, not its atomic agency chief, indicating a final agreement may not be reached this week.
Monday's meeting in Vienna, hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is being seen as a test of the diplomatic process now under way. Despite the setback, Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), sounded positive.
But BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne reports from London that the TV report, if true, would be a major blow to the West's hopes of a new dialogue. Iranian doubts
It appeared on Press TV, a government-run foreign news channel that often reflects government thinking. "We had this afternoon quite a constructive meeting. We're off to a good start. Most of the technical issues have been discussed," he said after the meeting at the IAEA headquarters.
Western powers say Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies. He said talks would resume on Tuesday morning.
It says its nuclear programme is for purely civilian, peaceful purposes. The head of the Iranian delegation, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said he endorsed Mr ElBaradei's comments.
'Deal suits all' class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/4031603.stm">Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/05/nuclear_fuel/html/mining.stm">Guide: Nuclear fuel cycle
The proposed deal hinges on an arrangement in principle that western negotiators say was reached in Geneva earlier this month. He refused to comment on Iranian media reports claiming that Tehran may be reluctant to ship out its fuel.
Under this arrangement, Russia and France would treat low-enriched Iranian uranium and turn it into fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran. Before talks began, state broadcaster Press TV said Iran wanted to import highly enriched uranium for its research reactor by buying it directly from France, Russia or the US.
Also before the meeting, Iran's nuclear energy agency spokesman, Ali Shirzadian, said the deal would not mean the suspension of Tehran's enrichment activities.
He added that if the talks in Vienna failed, Iran would also enrich uranium to higher levels than it is currently doing.
The BBC Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, reports from London that the Iranian media reports, if true, would be a major blow to the West's hopes of a new dialogue.
Western powers say Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies. It says its nuclear programme is for purely civilian, peaceful purposes.
No new sanctions?
The proposed deal hinges on an arrangement in principle that Western negotiators announced after talks in Geneva earlier this month.
Under the planned agreement, Russia and France would treat low-enriched Iranian uranium and turn it into fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran.
Our correspondent says in theory this is a deal that could suit everyone.Our correspondent says in theory this is a deal that could suit everyone.
Iran would have the fuel it needs, tacit acknowledgement of its right to enrich uranium, and no new sanctions, while the West would get a guarantee that Iran's existing stockpile will not be diverted to make nuclear bombs. Iran would have the fuel it needs, tacit acknowledgement of its right to enrich uranium, and no new sanctions.
But the Press TV quoted unnamed sources as saying Tehran was opposed to taking low-enriched uranium out of the country for further enrichment for reactor fuel. The West would get a guarantee that Iran's existing stockpile will not be diverted to make nuclear bombs.
Instead, the report said, it wanted to buy highly-enriched uranium directly from France, Russia or the US. But the talks in Vienna have many details to resolve, our correspondent adds.
The talks in Vienna have many details to resolve, our correspondent adds.
Abolfazl Zohrehvand, an aide to Iran's lead nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, was quoted as saying that under the current proposal, only enrichment above 5% would be done outside Iran.
"The importance of this is that Iran will retain the techniques and technology of enrichment... and we will keep our sites and research centre," he said, according to the Irna news agency.
"It is possible that in certain circumstances we will need uranium enriched to 63%, which we will buy under the supervision of the IAEA or indeed we will do the enriching ourselves."
Last month, the revelation of a second uranium enrichment plant in Iran further raised Western fears that Iran was trying to develop nuclear weapons.Last month, the revelation of a second uranium enrichment plant in Iran further raised Western fears that Iran was trying to develop nuclear weapons.
The Iranian government has said it will allow IAEA inspectors into the site, thought to be near Qom. The Iranian government has said it will allow IAEA inspectors into the site, thought to be near the holy city of Qom.
The Iranian media has reported that the talks in Vienna could run into Tuesday.
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