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New doubts over Iran nuclear deal Iran's nuclear answer 'next week'
(40 minutes later)
A key deal between Iran and Western powers on its nuclear programme appears to be in doubt as a deadline nears without an official response. Iran will respond to a proposed deal on its controversial nuclear programme by the middle of next week, the UN atomic agency (IAEA) has said.
Iranian media raised new conditions for the deal, while another report said a formal response would come next week. IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei said he hoped the answer would be "positive".
State TV said Iran would prefer to buy uranium for its research reactor, rather than send its own stock abroad for enrichment, as proposed. The UN agency had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining.
France said Iran was not responding positively to the deal. The proposal followed talks between the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US. Friday was set as the deadline for a response from Tehran.
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 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.
Deadline disappointment 'New conditions'
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. "Iran informed the Director General today that it is considering the proposal in depth and in a favourable light, but needs time until the middle of next week to provide a response," the IAEA said in a statement.
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 cycleNUCLEAR 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 proposal followed talks between the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US. It said Mr ElBaradei hoped that Tehran's response "will equally be positive, since approval of this agreement will signal a new era of co-operation".
The other countries approved it, and Friday was set as the deadline for a response from Iran. Under the proposal, Iran would get the fuel it needs for its research reactor in Tehran, but this would not be sufficiently enriched to make a bomb.
There has been no final official response from Iran, but Iran's English-language Press TV quoted the Iranian negotiator Ali Asghar Soltanieh as saying a response would be given to the IAEA next week. However, Iranian media earlier on Friday raised new conditions for the deal.
An earlier 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." State TV said Iran would prefer to buy uranium for its research reactor, rather than send its own stock abroad for enrichment, as proposed.
It quoted a member of Iran's negotiating team as 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".
Before the IAEA statement, France said Iran was not responding positively to the deal.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said during a visit to Lebanon: "I cannot say that the situation regarding Iran is very positive.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 RussiaEnrichment 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.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.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.IAEA inspectors plan to visit the site on 25 October.