ID :
107063
Wed, 02/17/2010 - 13:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/107063
The shortlink copeid
Russia urges Iran to agree to IAEA proposal for uranium upgrading
MEXICO CITY, February 17 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow urges the Iranian
authorities to agree to the International Atomic Energy Agency's proposals
to upgrade uranium for the Iranian research nuclear reactor, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Tuesday.
"The demand that Iran stop enrichment of uranium is featured in a
resolution of the UN Security Council," Lavrov said.
He also indicated that a letter, which was sent to the IAEA recently,
concerns supplies of uranium for the research reactor.
Lavrov recalled that the IAEA designed the pattern of fuel replacement
last October.
"This proposal remains in effect and the letter /to the agency/
reiterates this," he said. "We hope the Iranian side will weigh all the
pros and cons and will agree to it."
In October 2009, the IAEA and six international mediators -- Russia,
the U.S., China, Britain, France, and Germany - offered the Iranians to
exchange the low-enrichment uranium /up to 3.5% purity/ available in the
country for foreign high-enriched uranium /up to 20% purity/.
A framework agreement the IAEA drafted last October offers Iran to
take out of the country about 1.2 tons /or roughly 70% of the accumulated
stock/ of low-enriched uranium for upgrading in Russia and the subsequent
manufacturing of fuel in France for the Teheran research reactor.
The Iranian authorities turned the proposal down, however, saying they
could agree only to a stage-by-stage and simultaneous exchange of nuclear
materials on the entire Iranian territory.
In early February, Teheran made public its decision to start enriching
uranium to 20% purity independently for the operations of the Teheran
research center that produces medical isotopes.
Russia, the U.S. and France criticized this decision in a joint open
letter to the Director General of the IAEA and said Iran's actions were
causing alarm over the Islamic Republic's genuine plans in the nuclear
sphere.
The document also called attention to three countries' consent to
provide fuel for the research reactor in connection with the IAEA's
mediator proposal.
-0-kle
authorities to agree to the International Atomic Energy Agency's proposals
to upgrade uranium for the Iranian research nuclear reactor, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Tuesday.
"The demand that Iran stop enrichment of uranium is featured in a
resolution of the UN Security Council," Lavrov said.
He also indicated that a letter, which was sent to the IAEA recently,
concerns supplies of uranium for the research reactor.
Lavrov recalled that the IAEA designed the pattern of fuel replacement
last October.
"This proposal remains in effect and the letter /to the agency/
reiterates this," he said. "We hope the Iranian side will weigh all the
pros and cons and will agree to it."
In October 2009, the IAEA and six international mediators -- Russia,
the U.S., China, Britain, France, and Germany - offered the Iranians to
exchange the low-enrichment uranium /up to 3.5% purity/ available in the
country for foreign high-enriched uranium /up to 20% purity/.
A framework agreement the IAEA drafted last October offers Iran to
take out of the country about 1.2 tons /or roughly 70% of the accumulated
stock/ of low-enriched uranium for upgrading in Russia and the subsequent
manufacturing of fuel in France for the Teheran research reactor.
The Iranian authorities turned the proposal down, however, saying they
could agree only to a stage-by-stage and simultaneous exchange of nuclear
materials on the entire Iranian territory.
In early February, Teheran made public its decision to start enriching
uranium to 20% purity independently for the operations of the Teheran
research center that produces medical isotopes.
Russia, the U.S. and France criticized this decision in a joint open
letter to the Director General of the IAEA and said Iran's actions were
causing alarm over the Islamic Republic's genuine plans in the nuclear
sphere.
The document also called attention to three countries' consent to
provide fuel for the research reactor in connection with the IAEA's
mediator proposal.
-0-kle
