VIENNA: Iran formally notified the UN atomic watchdog on Monday of its response to a nuclear fuel swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
The IAEA said it would pass on the letter to the United States, France and Russia — which had offered to supply much-needed fuel to a research reactor in Tehran under a UN-brokered deal last October.
"IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano today received the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Brazil and Turkey, who joined to deliver a letter signed by the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi," agency spokeswoman Gill Tudor said.
The letter "follows from the Joint Declaration signed by the three countries in Teheran on May 17, regarding fuel supply for the Tehran Research Reactor," Tudor said, adding it would be conveyed to the United States, France and Russia "for their consideration."
The so-called Vienna Group of Washington, Paris and Moscow had made an offer in October to ship most of Iran’s low-enriched uranium (LEU) out of the country in return for higher grade reactor fuel to be supplied by Russia and France.
But Iran stalled on the deal insisting it wants a simultaneous swap on its own soil, which was rejected by world powers.
Under the new deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil, Tehran has committed Iran to deposit 1,200 kilograms (2,640 pounds) of LEU in Turkey in return for the reactor fuel.
Iranian, Brazilian and Turkish representatives, as well as officials from the IAEA, all arrived at 10:30 am (0830 GMT) for a short 45-minute meeting at Amano’s residence in central Vienna.
The IAEA has been waiting for a written response from Iran ever since Tehran signed the deal with Brazil and Turkey — non-permanent members of the UN Security Council — last week.
Western governments’ reaction has been dismissive of the deal, which they have said fails to address international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.
Washington has pressed ahead with circulating a new sanctions resolution.
