Iran Signs Deal to Send Uranium to Turkey, Ahmadinejad Calls for Talks, Mottaki Announces Details

Iran signs deal to send uranium to Turkey

Al-Alam TV, Monday, 17 May 2010, 11:47:29 GMT

Iran inked a nuclear fuel swap deal Monday under which 1,200 kilos of low enriched uranium will be shipped to Turkey for further enrichment.

The agreement, under which Iran will in turn receive nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor, was signed in the Iranian capital between the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and Brazil.

The signing came after three-way talks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Under the agreement "Turkey will be the place to keep Iran's 3.5 percent (low enriched) uranium," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters. "One thousand two hundred kilos (of LEU) will be exchanged."

He added that Iran will officially notify the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the agreement "within a week."

"The IAEA should inform the Vienna group (United States, France and Russia) of this proposal," he said of world powers which have wanted Iran since last October to accept a UN-backed deal to ship its enriched uranium abroad.

There was no immediate reaction from the IAEA, which had in its proposal suggested Iran send its uranium stockpile to Russia to be further enriched and then on to France to make nuclear fuel for a research reactor in Tehran.

"If the Vienna group accepts the agreement (made on Monday), there will be an exchange of 1,200 kilos of Iran's 3.5 percent enriched uranium with 120 kilos of 20 percent enriched fuel," Mehmanparast said.

"The uranium stockpile in Turkey will be under Iran's and the IAEA's supervision," he said. "We hope the other party accepts this proposal."

If world powers agree "Iran will ship its low enriched uranium during a period of one month to Turkey," the spokesman said.

Brazil's president, in Iran for a summit of non-aligned countries, held talks on the nuclear issue with Iran's officials Sunday.

At Iran's invitation, Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan arrived at around midnight local time (1930 GMT) Sunday to join Lula.

According to Turkish news agency Anatolia, Erdogan and Lula along with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were to examine the final, detailed version of the agreement early Monday worked out by their foreign ministers.

While US and its Western allies are pushing for new sanctions, veto-wielding permanent members Russia and China along with several of the rotating members who do not have veto powers express reservations toward new set of sanctions.

They say the issue should be resolved through diplomacy rather than harsh approaches usually adopted by the US in dealing with international issues.

The West accuses Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran strongly denies the accusation, saying its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.

Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at making nuclear fuel for civilian purposes, particularly generating electricity for its growing population.

The Islamic republic already suffers from lack of electricity and its traditional sources of power generating plants do not meet the entire nation's needs at pick times.

Ahmadinejad hopes big powers enter talks after deal

Al-Alam, Mon, 17 May 2010 14:15:10 GMT

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he hopes world powers would enter talks with Tehran after it agreed to ship the bulk of its enriched uranium abroad.

"I hope the 5+1 (UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany) enter talks with honesty, respect and fairness and heed the great work started in Tehran," Ahmadinejad told in the opening session of G15 summit in Tehran.

Iran signed an agreement with non-permanent UN Security Council members Turkey and Brazil on Monday to ship 1,200 kilograms (2,640 pounds) of its low enriched uranium to Turkey for a later swap with nuclear reactor fuel.

Ahmadinejad blamed the breakdown of nuclear negotiations with the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany, on a perceived disregard of "friendship and respect" by some among the group.

The agreement, under which Iran will in turn receive nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor, was signed in the Iranian capital between the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and Brazil.

The signing came after three-way talks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that Iran will officially notify the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the agreement "within a week."

"The IAEA should inform the Vienna group (United States, France and Russia) of this proposal," he said of world powers which have wanted Iran since last October to accept a UN-backed deal to ship its enriched uranium abroad.

"If the Vienna group accepts the agreement (made on Monday), there will be an exchange of 1,200 kilos of Iran's 3.5 percent enriched uranium with 120 kilos of 20 percent enriched fuel," Mehmanparast said.

"The uranium stockpile in Turkey will be under Iran's and the IAEA's supervision," he said. "We hope the other party accepts this proposal."

If world powers agree "Iran will ship its low enriched uranium during a period of one month to Turkey," the spokesman said.

While US and its Western allies are pushing for new sanctions, veto-wielding permanent members Russia and China along with several of the rotating members who do not have veto powers express reservations toward new set of sanctions.

They say the issue should be resolved through diplomacy rather than harsh approaches usually adopted by the US in dealing with international issues.

The West accuses Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran strongly denies the accusation, saying its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.

Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at making nuclear fuel for civilian purposes, particularly generating electricity for its growing population.

The Islamic republic already suffers from lack of electricity and its traditional sources of power generating plants do not meet the entire nation's needs at pick times.

Mottaki announces terms of enrichment deal

Al-Alam TV, Mon, 17 May 2010 16:54:51 GMT

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced on Monday the terms of a deal which the Islamic republic signed to ship its low-enriched uranium to Turkey for further enrichment.

Under the deal 1,200 kilos of low enriched uranium will be shipped to Turkey for further enrichment.

The agreement, under which Iran will in turn receive nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor, was signed in the Iranian capital between the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and Brazil.

The signing came after three-way talks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The terms of the deal were read by Mottaki in a press conference in the Iranian capital. The terms are as the following:

1. We reaffirm our commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and in accordance with the related articles of the NPT, recall the right of all state parties, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy (as well as nuclear fuel cycle including enrichment activities) for peaceful purposes without discrimination.

2. We express our strong conviction that we have the opportunity now to begin a forward looking process that will create a positive, constructive, non-confrontational atmosphere leading to an era of interaction and cooperation.

3. We believe that the nuclear fuel exchange is instrumental in initiating cooperation in different areas, especially with regard to peaceful nuclear cooperation including nuclear power plant and research reactors construction.

4. Based on this point, the nuclear fuel exchange is a starting point to begin cooperation and a positive constructive move forward among nations. Such a move should lead to positive interaction and cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities replacing and avoiding all kinds of confrontation through refraining from measures, actions and rhetorical statements that would jeopardize Iran's rights and obligations under the NPT.

5. Based on the above, in order to facilitate the nuclear cooperation mentioned above, the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to deposit 1200 kilograms LEU in Turkey. While in Turkey this LEU will continue to be the property of Iran. Iran and the IAEA may station observers to monitor the safekeeping of the LEU in Turkey.

6. Iran will notify the IAEA in writing through official channels of its agreement with the above within seven days following the date of this declaration. Upon the positive response of the Vienna Group (US, Russia, France and the IAEA) further details of the exchange will be elaborated through a written agreement and proper arrangement between Iran and the Vienna Group that specifically committed themselves to deliver 120 kilograms of fuel needed for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR).

7. When the Vienna Group declares its commitment to this provision, then both parties would commit themselves to the implementation of the agreement mentioned in item 6. The Islamic Republic of Iran expressed its readiness to deposit its LEU (1200 kilograms) within one month. On the basis of the same agreement the Vienna Group should deliver 120 kilograms fuel required for TRR in no later than one year.

8. In case the provisions of this Declaration are not respected, Turkey, upon the request of Iran, will return swiftly and unconditionally Iran's LEU to Iran.

9. We welcome the decision of the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue as in the past their talks with the 5+1 countries in Turkey on the common concerns based on collective commitments according to the common points of their proposals.

10. Turkey and Brazil appreciated Iran's commitment to the NPT and its constructive role in pursuing the realization of nuclear rights of its member states. The Islamic Republic of Iran likewise appreciated the constructive efforts of the friendly countries Turkey and Brazil in creating the conducive environment for realization of Iran's nuclear rights.

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