The US and its allies are locked in a standoff with Iran over its disputed nuclear program. Washington and other western powers fear Tehran is using the program to build nuclear arms. Iran denies the charges, and says its program only aims to generate electricity.
Iran initially rejected a 2009 UN-backed plan that offered nuclear fuel rods to Tehran in exchange for Iran's stock of lower-level enriched uranium. The swap would curb Tehran's capacity to make a nuclear bomb.
But at the same time, the country's leaders have worked to keep the offer on the table, proposing variations, though without accepting the terms set in the UN proposal. The move may aim to undermine support for sanctions in the UN Security Council, where the US is lobbying heavily for Russian and Chinese backing.
Speaking Tuesday after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said if the West is serious about the nuclear swap, "the case can be a multilateral trust-making opportunity for all sides, including Iran." "If the principle of exchange of fuel is a consensus, there is the possibility for an exchange of views, of understanding for mutual trust," Mottaki said.
Mottaki's comments come a day after he said Iran wants direct talks about the deal with all the UN Security Council members, except one with which it would have indirect talks -- a reference to the United States, which with Tehran has no relations.
Under the UN proposal, Iran was to send 1,100 kg of low-enriched uranium abroad, where it would be further enriched to 20 percent and converted into fuel rods, which would then be returned to Iran. Sending its low-enriched uranium abroad would leave Iran with insufficient stocks to further purify to weapons-grade level.
Tehran needs the fuel rods to power a research reactor in the Iranian capital that makes nuclear isotopes needed for medical purposes. Once converted into rods, uranium can no longer be used for making weapons.
Iran has made several counteroffers, including for a swap of less low-enriched uranium, sending it in batches or carrying out a simultaneous trade. But the US and its allies say the changes would obviate the goal of rendering Iran unable to build a warhead.
Speaking alongside Mottaki, Ahmet Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's offer to act as a mediator for a fuel exchange, and stressed Ankara seeks a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.
