‘Iran will only deliver its uranium after receiving nuclear fuel’
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN - Senior Presidential Advisor Parviz Davoudi has said that Iran will only deliver its 3.5 percent enriched uranium after it receives the 20 percent enriched uranium in exchange.

“The administration will consider national interests in the (nuclear) fuel exchange. If an agreement is reached in this regard, we will (only) deliver the 3.5 (percent enriched) fuel after we have received the 20 percent fuel,” he told IRNA on Monday.

Davoudi added that the West has come to understand that Iran will not back down from its stance on peaceful nuclear technology and has recognized its inalienable right to civilian nuclear technology.

“At one time, the Westerners cold not tolerate even a few centrifuges. However, today, they are forced to accept Iran’s nuclear advances,” he said.

He also stated that Iran has not had a good experience in its dealings with France since France did not fulfill any of its commitments in previous agreements, and this has made Iran suspicious about Westerners.

The nuclear fuel talks between Iran, Russia, the United States, and France in Vienna concluded on October 21 without a final agreement, but IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei then presented a proposal for the four countries to study.

Under the draft deal, a large consignment of Iran’s enriched uranium would be shipped out of the country for processing into fuel rods with a purity of 20 percent, which would be used by a research reactor in Tehran that manufactures medical radioisotopes.

On October 23, diplomats from Russia, France, and the United States submitted their formal approvals of the deal to process Iran’s nuclear fuel abroad.

Several senior Iranian officials, including Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, have strongly criticized the deal, saying it is neither logical nor legal.

Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee rapporteur Kazem Jalali had said earlier that the proposed exchange of uranium should be done in Iran.

Fuel exchange is out of the question

MP Hossein Ebrahimi of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has said that the issue of a fuel exchange is totally out of the question.

“Iran is capable of enriching uranium to 20 percent,” he told the Mehr News Agency on Monday.

However, Iran is ready to buy the 20 percent enriched uranium from other countries, he added.

Ebrahimi also stated that the International Atomic Energy Agency should respond to Iran’s legal requests, not the Western powers.

Buying enriched uranium is Iran’s priority

MP Mohammad-Karim Abedi of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has stated that Iran’s priority is buying uranium from other countries.

It will also agree to a fuel exchange under certain conditions, he told the Mehr News Agency on Monday.

The MP also stated that the IAEA has adopted a double standard on Iran’s nuclear issue mainly due to pressure by the United States.

Iran should not give up all its enriched uranium

MP Mohammad Karami-Rad stated that Iran will have no alternative besides enriching uranium to 20 percent purity itself if other countries do not want to sell the uranium to Iran.

The MP made the remarks in an interview with the Mehr News Agency on Monday.

Karami-Rad added that Iran is ready to buy uranium from any country in the framework of IAEA regulations.

But it is illogical to ask Iran to give up all its enriched uranium, he noted.

The MP also stated that it is unfortunate that Russia is affected by the West’s pressure and expressed hope that the Russians will act in a way that does not undermine Tehran-Moscow relations.

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