UN-backed nuclear deal is not dead, says Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks with media during a tea break in the 12th D8 group of developing nations council of ministers' session in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Iran 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.Photo: AFP

Iran said yesterday it has not rejected a UN-backed plan aimed at limiting the country's ability to make nuclear weapons as it called for a technical panel to review its terms.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that Iran conveyed its stand to the International Atomic Energy Agency two days ago. Mottaki is in Malaysia to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of eight Islamic countries.
His statement could be seen as a softening of Iran's stand after senior Iranian lawmakers rejected the plan on Saturday. Earlier last week, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said his government will persist with its nuclear programme despite international concerns.
Asked if this meant Tehran has rejected the deal, Mottaki simply said, "No."
The UN-brokered plan would require Iran to send about 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms) or 70 percent of its low-grade uranium stockpile to Russia in one batch by year's end for processing. Subsequently, France would convert the uranium into fuel rods that would be returned to Iran for use in a reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes.
"We have considered these proposals. We have some technical and economic considerations on that. Two days ago, we passed our views and observations to the IAEA, so it is very much possible to establish a technical commission in order to review and reconsider all these issues," Mottaki said.
Asked when the panel would meet, he said that was up to the IAEA. He refused to elaborate.
If Iran accepts the UN-backed plan, it would not be able to replenish its stockpile to levels that would again yield enough enriched uranium for further enrichment into weapons-grade material for about a year.
Since its clandestine enrichment programme was revealed seven years ago, Iran has amassed more than 3,300 pounds (1,500 kilograms) of low-enriched uranium at its cavernous underground facility at Natanz.
It is relatively simple to turn fuel-grade uranium into weapons-grade material. The West fears Tehran wants to do just that although Ahmadinejad's government says it is not interested in nuclear arms and wants only to create fuel for a planned network of reactors.