Nuclear fuel deal needs further review: Iran

MALAYSIA: Iran on Monday called for a review of a UN-backed nuclear fuel proposal it is under pressure to sign, citing technical and economic issues it said needed more discussion.

The deal would see Iran’s low-enriched uranium sent to Russia for further enrichment and conversion into fuel, and returned for use in a Tehran reactor monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“We have considered this proposal, we have some technical and economic considerations on that,” Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters during a visit to the Malaysian capital.

“Two days ago we passed our views and observations to the IAEA, so it is very much possible to establish a technical commission to review and reconsider all these issues,” he said, speaking through a translator. Mottaki, who is attending a conference of developing Muslim nations, did not elaborate on the details of such a technical commission. He said that Iran would “continue enrichment” for nuclear power stations requiring fuel.

Kuala Lumpur, Monday, AFP