The October 1 meeting between Iran and Group 5+1 (U.S., Russia, China, France, the UK and Germany) in Geneva had two important implications: facilitation of Monday’s inspection of the Fordoo nuclear enrichment site by IAEA, and last week’s meeting in IAEA headquarters in Vienna between Iran, Russia, U.S. and France.

International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are due to arrive on Sunday to have a look at the Fordoo nuclear enrichment plant near Qom on Monday.
The IAEA inspectors have asked Iran for far more than a look. They want engineering drawings and permission to interview scientists. Iran has so for not officially responded but the chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili told reporters in Tehran after returning from the Geneva that the plant can be inspected within the framework of IAEA regulations and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
After three days of deliberations between Iran, Russia, France and U.S. a tentative agreement was reached to ship three-quarters (1,200 kg/2,600 pounds) of Iran’s stockpiles of the five percent enriched uranium to Russia for conversion into 20 percent, a form that could be used in Tehran Research Reactor, which makes medical isotopes.
Iran was represented by its Ambassador to IAEA, Ali-Asghar Soltanieh who told reporters on Wednesday that the talks had been constructive and effective and Tehran considers such a trend “positive.”
However, Soltanieh declared Friday that Iran would require one week to study this proposal and make a decision. “After final evaluation, I will inform Elbaradei next week as soon as I return to Vienna about the result (of our evaluation),” he noted.
Washington, Moscow, and Paris expressed their support for the arrangement on Friday.
Prior to the meeting, Press TV reported that Iran would not hold direct talks with France in Vienna for failing to deliver its nuclear materials in the past.
-- Iran media reaction
The nuclear negotiations made first page headlines on Thursday in all the major newspapers in Tehran. Here are some of them:
Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s personal Tehran Emrouz Farsi daily’s lead: The first nuclear agreement with three world powers / Deal with Russia, negotiations with U.S. and conflict with France.
Conservative state-owned Farsi daily Iran: Draft of nuclear agreement with Russia and U.S.
Reformist Etemad and state-owned Ettelaat had the same headlines: Russia in-charge of providing Iran with nuclear fuel.
Kayhan Farsi, which is Iran’s official newspaper, in its lead writes that Vienna meeting was without any finalized agreement. The English language Kayhan International’s headline: Iran upholds nuclear upper hand.
State-owned Iran Daily writes “ElBaradei presents draft deal: Awaiting affirmative action”.
Privately owned Iran News: Soltanieh: Russia responsible for fuel supply to Tehran reactor.
-- Next step
The proposal under negotiation originated from Iran’s request to refuel the small medical reactor, which has long been subjected to international inspections and is not considered part of a nuclear weapons program.
Nuclear energy agency spokesman Ali Shirzadian said last week it was not “economically feasible” for Iran to further purify low enriched uranium (LEU) itself to yield the 150-300 kg of material that it needs for the reactor, but that it would do so if the Vienna talks “do not bring about Iran’s desired result.”
The negotiators in Geneva had agreed that their deputies would meet prior to the next high level meeting which was tentatively set for the end of October. The approval of the draft agreement by Iran will pave the way for the next high level meeting between Iran and Group 5+1.