Iran agrees to make uranium swap in Turkey

TEHRAN - Iran signed an agreement to swap its uranium in Turkey for enrichment, hoping to avert new international sanctions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Monday.

He said the accord was signed during a meeting hosted by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with the leaders of Turkey and Brazil.

“After lengthy talks in the recent months and especially recent days, an agreement was signed with Turkey and Brazil to keep 1,200 kg of Iranian low-enriched uranium (LEU) on Turkish soil until the fuel (for the Tehran medical reactor) is received,” the spokesman said.

“We will inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within one week and if an agreement is reached with the IAEA and the relevant three countries - France, Russia and the United States - we will send the LEU within one month to Turkey,” he added.

Iran’s uranium would be kept in Turkey under IAEA supervision until the fuel for the Tehran reactor is delivered, Mehmanparast said.

“This is an important step and shows that in the nuclear issue, Iran is after understanding and cooperation rather than confrontation with the international community,” the spokesman said.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan decided to come to Tehran Sunday night to join Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the talks after Iran reportedly signalled its willingness to make concessions regarding the location of a uranium exchange.

According to a plan brokered in October by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s low-enriched uranium was to be exported to Russia for further enrichment and then to France for processing into fuel for a Tehran medical reactor.

Tehran insisted the swap be made on Iranian soil, but world powers and the Vienna-based IAEA refused.

Iran has now opted for the option of making the swap in Turkey, which is Iran’s neighbour.

The meeting is regarded as the Islamic state’s last chance to try to avoid a renewed resolution by the UN Security Council and fresh economic sanctions, observers say.

Although the uranium exchange deal would not settle more than seven years of dispute over Iran’s enrichment programme, it is considered by observers as a first step.