Jordanian minister upbeat on US nuclear talks

Jordan's foreign minister voiced optimism on Monday about nuclear cooperation talks with the United States after Jordanian sources had said Washington was refusing to allow the country to produce its own nuclear fuel. "I can see a solution. Discussions are ongoing," Nasser Judeh said when asked if he saw a way through the problem.

Jordan wants a nuclear cooperation accord with the United States to help it launch a civilian nuclear program and meet a target of generating 30 percent of its energy needs through nuclear power by 2030.

A close US ally, Jordan says that as a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it is entitled to produce its own nuclear fuel. (Reuters)