Toward Iranian Nuclear Agreement Important Changes

Previous
Left arrow key Next
Right arrow key Close
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad along with Chairman of the IAEA, Mohamed al-Baradei in official meetings nuclear talks in Tehran on October 4, 2009. At present, Tehran is seeking two important changes in nuclear deal. (News CAIRO)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad along with Chairman of the IAEA, Mohamed al-Baradei in official meetings nuclear talks in Tehran on October 4, 2009. At present, Tehran is seeking two important changes in nuclear deal. (News CAIRO)
TEHRAN (AFP CAIRO) - Iran has given response to a draft agreement that was mediated by the UN nuclear watchdog to which countries will send most of which have enriched uranium abroad.

Arom International Energy Agency (IAEA), an organization based in Vienna, confirmed on Thursday that they had received the initial response from Iran.

A source close to Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said that Tehran is seeking two important changes in the agreement, the request delivery of uranium to be gradual and simultaneous exchange of nuclear fuel in return.

The response was issued after President Ahmadinejad said that he was ready to cooperate with Western powers over the issue of nuclear fuel and technology.

"We welcome the exchange of fuel, nuclear cooperation, construction of power plants and reactors. We are ready to cooperate," he said in a live broadcast on local television.

Ahmadinejad added that Iran will not retreat "one iota" over its nuclear rights, and that the supply of nuclear fuel for Tehran's reactors will test the "honesty" of global power.

Nazanine Moshiri, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran, said Iran's proposed amendments to the contents of the agreement is very important for the country.

"What Ahmadinejad said in his speech is that this is an opportunity to evaluate the honesty of a world power, and it's important for Iran."

"The importance of this case is the availability of extra time. Iran will continue to enrich uranium at Natanz plant and they will still be able to replace anything that sent abroad," he said.

Pact to allow Iran receives nuclear fuel for a research reactor, designed to help dispel fear in western countries who believe that Iran intends to build nuclear weapons.

Moin Baqer, Iran specialist writer and journalist, said that the Ahmadinejad government may see the positive side of the deal if it could reduce international sanctions.

"I think that if sanctions are lifted, it will help Iran's economy because they really can not face major problems in foreign policy while at the same time have an internal problem of unemployment," he said.

The news came as the team returned to IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, after inspecting the controversial nuclear power plant near the city of Qom.

Disclosure of Qom nuclear power plant last month increased the international concern over Iran's nuclear program.

Iran has been enriching uranium - the most controversial aspects of its nuclear project - for several years at another factory located in the center of Natanz, despite three penalties that have been granted by the United Nations.