Iran is still studying UN nuclear fuel deal, says lawmaker

Nov 7, 2009, 16:00 GMT

Tehran - A prominent lawmaker denied reports Saturday of an Iranian decision to turn down a UN-drafted deal on provision of nuclear fuel for a research reactor, saying his country is still studying the case, the Fars news agency reported.

'Studies are underway to see what kind of solution could be helpful on the provision of fuel for the (Tehran) reactor,' Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the parliament's foreign policy and national security committee, said, according to Fars.

The deal, which was proposed in talks with France, Russia and the United States, requires Iran to ship its low-enriched uranium abroad for further processing into fuel to be used in a medical-purpose nuclear reactor in Tehran under constant monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

'The final decision would be made after the talks between our ambassador to the IAEA, Mr (Ali Asghar) Soltanieh, and the other sides at the agency,' Boroujerdi said.

Iran has not formally rejected the plan, as the country's Supreme National Security Council, the top security decision-making body, is examining the proposed deal. But Tehran officially asked for more talks because of technical and economic questions.

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Thursday that Iran wants to directly exchange its enriched uranium for nuclear fuel, instead of shipping out the uranium and waiting for a year while it is processed in Russia and France into fuel.

However, the United States does not favour such a swap, ElBaradei told broadcaster CNN, because Washington sees this 12-months period as an opportunity for talks with Iran.