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Iran 'reply' on nuclear fuel deal Iran 'reply' on nuclear fuel deal
(about 2 hours later)
Iran has delivered a response on a UN-backed proposal seen as crucial to easing diplomatic tensions over its nuclear programme, Iranian media say.Iran has delivered a response on a UN-backed proposal seen as crucial to easing diplomatic tensions over its nuclear programme, Iranian media say.
Under the plan, most of Iran's enriched uranium would be sent abroad to be turned into fuel rods for research use.Under the plan, most of Iran's enriched uranium would be sent abroad to be turned into fuel rods for research use.
Iran's president said earlier his country was ready to co-operate with the proposal.Iran's president said earlier his country was ready to co-operate with the proposal.
Iran says it is enriching uranium for fuel, but the US and its allies have accused it of seeking nuclear weapons.Iran says it is enriching uranium for fuel, but the US and its allies have accused it of seeking nuclear weapons.
A report on Al-Alam TV on Thursday said Iran had given its response on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plan, but gave no details.A report on Al-Alam TV on Thursday said Iran had given its response on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plan, but gave no details.
Iran's Isna news agency quoted Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, as saying only that Iranian "economic and technical concerns regarding the supply of fuel for the research reactor [in Tehran] should be addressed."Iran's Isna news agency quoted Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, as saying only that Iranian "economic and technical concerns regarding the supply of fuel for the research reactor [in Tehran] should be addressed."
Earlier, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the IAEA proposal as a move from "confrontation to co-operation" by western powers. 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 the process is repeated until uranium is enrichedLow-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuelHighly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons
"We welcome fuel exchange, nuclear cooperation, building of power plants and reactors and we are ready to co-operate," Mr Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech in the city of Mashhad. Observers in Tehran say the government is expected to demand significant changes to the IAEA proposal while accepting the overall framework.
According to a report by the pro-government newspaper Java, those changes could include shipping low-enriched uranium abroad in stages rather than all at once.
Also on Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the IAEA proposal as a move from "confrontation to co-operation" by western powers.
"We welcome fuel exchange, nuclear co-operation, building of power plants and reactors and we are ready to co-operate," Mr Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech in the city of Mashhad.
However, he also said Iran would "not retreat even an iota" over its right to develop a nuclear programme.
The IAEA has proposed exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be converted into fuel before being returned to Iran.The IAEA has proposed exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be converted into fuel before being returned to Iran.
The plan was agreed by the US, Russia and France, after talks in Vienna, but Iran missed a deadline to respond on Friday. The plan was agreed by the US, Russia and France after talks in Vienna last week, but Iran missed a deadline to respond on Friday.
For Western powers, the proposal would buy time while they press for a definitive solution to the stand-off over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Meanwhile, a delegation of IAEA inspectors returned after visiting Iran's recently-revealed second uranium enrichment plant at Fordo, near Qom.
"We had a good trip," said delegation head Herman Nackaerts.
He did not answer specific questions about any of the data that was gathered, saying it had yet to be analysed.