Uranium swap may help solve Iranian nuclear problem - UN chief

[FarCenter]

A new Iranian uranium swap deal should raise confidence levels and could lead to a diplomatic solution to the controversial Iranian nuclear problem, the UN secretary general said on Monday.

A trilateral agreement on uranium exchange was reached the last week by Iran, Turkey and Brazil, setting out terms under which Iran will send 1.2 tons of its low-enriched uranium to get 120 kg of enriched to 20% uranium fuel. If approved, the swap will be carried out throughout the year on Turkey's territory.

"The agreement could be a positive step in building confidence about Iran's nuclear programs if followed by broader engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international community," Ban Ki-moon said.

The IAEA has already received a letter, signed by Iran, Turkey and Brazil, which commits Iran to sending low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for supplies of higher-grade uranium needed for a medical research reactor.

If the Iranian offer is approved by the IAEA and other involved parties such as Russia, France and the United States, who together proposed the original fuel swap deal six months ago, it could open a possibility for solving the controversial problem, Ban said.


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