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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Iranian nuclear deal under threat | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A key deal between Iran and Western powers on its nuclear programme appears to be unravelling, as a deadline looms. | A key deal between Iran and Western powers on its nuclear programme appears to be unravelling, as a deadline looms. |
| Iranian TV reported that Iran would prefer to buy uranium for its research reactor, rather than send its own stock abroad for enrichment as proposed. | Iranian TV reported that Iran would prefer to buy uranium for its research reactor, rather than send its own stock abroad for enrichment as proposed. |
| France said Iran was not responding positively to the deal from the International Atomic Energy Agency. | France said Iran was not responding positively to the deal from the International Atomic Energy Agency. |
| The draft deal, agreed by the US, France and Russia, was prompted by concern over Iran's nuclear programme. | The draft deal, agreed by the US, France and Russia, was prompted by concern over Iran's nuclear programme. |
| The IAEA, a UN agency, had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining. | The IAEA, a UN agency, had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining. |
| Deadline disappointment | Deadline disappointment |
| Under the deal, Iran would thereby get the fuel it needs for its research reactor in Tehran, but this would not be sufficiently enriched to make a bomb. | |
| NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE Mined uranium ore is purified and reconstituted into solid form known as yellowcakeYellowcake is converted into a gas by heating it to about 64C (147F) Gas is fed through centrifuges, where its isotopes separate and process is repeated until uranium is enrichedLow-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuelHighly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle | |
| The plan followed talks between the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US. | 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. | The other countries approved it, and Friday was set as the deadline for a response from Iran. |
| There has been no final official response from Iran. | |
| But 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 during a visit to Lebanon: "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." | "Now, meetings are being held in Vienna (the IAEA headquarters). But via the indications we are receiving, matters are not very positive." |
| Iran's rejection of the deal would come as a disappointment to the US, Russia and France, and it could make the wider negotiation with Iran much more difficult - and the threat of sanctions more likely, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. | Iran's rejection of the deal would come as a disappointment to the US, Russia and France, and it could make the wider negotiation with Iran much more difficult - and the threat of sanctions more likely, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. |
| Enrichment in Russia | 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. | 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. | 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 the uranium would not be sufficiently enriched to produce a weapon. | |
| Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium. | Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium. |
| It revealed in September that it was building a second uranium enrichment site, in the city of Qom - much to the anger of world leaders who said Iran was building it in secret. | |
| IAEA inspectors plan to visit the site on 25 October. |