Poochandi

January 05, 2010

Iran repeated today its counter-proposal for a staged swap of its low enriched uranium (LEU) for nuclear fuel from abroad for a research reactor, leaving "details" open to discussion.

"If the other side expresses readiness for the gradual and staged swap, we will discuss the details," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters.

Iran has rejected an offer drawn up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) aimed at allaying fears about Tehran's nuclear drive by shipping most of its LEU stockpile abroad to be further enriched into reactor fuel.

Instead it has come out with its own proposal of a simultaneous and staged swap of LEU for reactor fuel.

World powers gave Iran until the end of 2009 to accept the UN-brokered deal but the deadline was ignored, prompting talk of fresh sanctions against the Islamic republic.