/ 23 October 2009

Iran fails to endorse UN nuclear deal

Iran declined on Friday to endorse proposals by the United Nations nuclear watchdog to help reduce Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium.

It said it was awaiting a ”positive and constructive” response from world powers to its proposal on providing nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor producing medical isotopes, state television reported.

”Now we are awaiting a positive and constructive response on Iran’s proposal from the other party on providing nuclear fuel for Tehran’s reactor,” TV quoted a member of Iran’s negotiating team, who attended the Vienna meeting on October 21, as saying.

”The other party is expected to avoid past mistakes in violating agreements … and to gain Iran’s trust,” the unnamed official said.

The UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday presented a draft deal to Iran and three world powers for approval within two days to reduce Tehran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium, seen by the West as a nuclear weapons risk.

The three powers — Russia, the United States and France — have all signalled approval of the draft.

Western diplomats said the plan would require Tehran to send 1,2-tonnes of its known 1,5-tonne reserve of low-enriched uranium to Russia and France by the end of the year.

The material would be converted into fuel for the Tehran medical reactor. — Reuters