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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| France warns on Iran nuclear deal | France warns on Iran nuclear deal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| France has warned that Iran is not responding positively to a proposed deal over its nuclear enrichment plans. | France has warned that Iran is not responding positively to a proposed deal over its nuclear enrichment plans. |
| The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN agency, had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining. | The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN agency, had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining. |
| As the deadline neared for Iran to respond to the draft agreement, Iranian TV reported that Iran would prefer to buy uranium for its research reactor. | |
| The French foreign minister said "matters are not very positive." | The French foreign minister said "matters are not very positive." |
| The draft deal was aimed at reducing international concern over Tehran's nuclear programme. | |
| Under the deal, Iran would get the fuel it needs for its research reactor in Tehran, but would not have enough uranium to make a bomb. | |
| The plan followed talks between the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US. | |
| The other countries approved it, and Friday was set as the deadline for a response from Iran. | |
| A report on Iranian TV quoted a member of Iran's negotiating team saying: "Iran is interested in buying fuel for the Tehran research reactor within the framework of a clear proposal... we are waiting for the other party's constructive and trust-building response." | |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said, according to the Lebanese National News Agency: "I cannot say that the situation regarding Iran is very positive. | |
| "Now, meetings are being held in Vienna (the IAEA headquarters). But via the indications we are receiving, matters are not very positive." | |
| Enrichment in Russia | |
| Russian nuclear industry insiders have told the BBC the proposed process would involve Iran sending its uranium to the IAEA, which would forward it to Russia for enriching. | |
| The enriched uranium would then be returned to the IAEA and sent to France, which has the technology to add the "cell elements" needed for Iran's reactor, they said. | |
| This process would enable Iran to obtain enough enriched uranium for its research reactor and for medical use, but not enough to produce a weapon. | |
| Exporting uranium has been seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons. | |
| Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium. |