Iran puts conditions on nuclear fuel swap

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Iran puts conditions on nuclear fuel swap
By BARBARA SURK
Associated Press Writer
Dec 13, 2:50 AM EST

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) -- After weeks of conflicting responses, Iran abruptly said Saturday that it is ready to exchange uranium for nuclear fuel - the key demand of a U.N.-sponsored initiative to defuse global fears over its nuclear program.

The conditions laid out in comments from Iran's foreign minister, however, are unlikely to satisfy the U.S. and its allies as they prepare to discuss new sanctions against Tehran at a meeting that could take place in the coming week.

Iran's stockpile of uranium is at the heart of international concerns because it offers Iran a possible pathway to nuclear weapons production if it is enriched to higher levels. Tehran insists it only wants to use the material to produce fuel for power plants and for other peaceful purposes.

Under a U.N. plan proposed in October and being pushed by Washington and five other world powers, Iran would ship most of its uranium - up to 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms) of it - abroad. It would then be enriched to higher levels in Russia, turned into fuel rods in France and returned to power a research reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes.

The material in the fuel rods cannot be enriched to higher levels, denying Iran the ability to use it to make weapons.


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