Iran urged to submit 'updated' nuclear swap proposal

Under a deal backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran would send most of its domestically-produced low enriched uranium (LEU) abroad for further enrichment.

The 20 percent enriched uranium then would be used to fuel the Tehran research reactor that produces medical isotopes for cancer patients.

Iran had earlier called for the swap deal to take place on its own soil, arguing that if it ships the bulk of its enriched uranium, there will be no guarantee that the fuel would eventually reach the country.

However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that the country would have "no problem" sending out its stock of LEU to be further refined into nuclear fuel for the research reactor in Tehran.

"Even if we sent our 3.5 percent [enriched] fuel abroad, it would cause no problem," Ahmadinejad said, adding that the controversy about the nuclear swap deal was unnecessary.

"Inside [the country], some said that if we send our nuclear fuel abroad, they (the West) will not give us enriched fuel," but if the suppliers renege on providing nuclear fuel to Iran, it will prove that the countries which signed the nuclear swap deal are not reliable, he noted.

The president reiterated that Iran, under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, is entitled to enrich uranium for civilian purposes and if the sides cannot agree on a deal, the country would be left with no choice but to domestically produce the fuel.

Following president Ahmadinejad's remarks, Western countries demanded that Iran submit a formal proposal to the IAEA over the deal.

"If Mr. Ahmadinejad's comments reflect an updated Iranian position, we look forward to Iran informing the IAEA," spokesman for the US National Security Council Mike Hammer said.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told journalists that "if there is a new approach, Iran has to submit its proposals to the IAEA in Vienna, then the international community can evaluate them."

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he was "pessimistic" about the remarks and added that he believed Iran was "trying to buy time."

Russia and Britain, however, said that they would welcome Iran's readiness to accept the proposal as a "positive sign."

China also underlined the 'urgent' need for the continuation of talks over the Iranian nuclear issue.

"We need to try and find a solution as quickly as possible through negotiations," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Wednesday.

/Press TV/