Iran awaits quick response to nuclear deal
Foreign ministry spokesman says Islamic Republic will notify UN nuclear watchdog of accord to ship much of its low enriched uranium to Turkey 'in writing, within a week'
Iran will notify the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the accord signed on Monday with Turkey and Brazil "in writing, through the usual channels, within a week," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.
"We expect members of the Vienna group (the United States, France, Russia and the IAEA) to quickly announce their readiness" to implement the fuel swap, he told reporters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened top advisors on Tuesday to assess the Iranian nuclear deal with Turkey and Brazil that may stall the new UN sanctions Israel seeks against Tehran, officials said.
The unscheduled inner cabinet meeting, accompanied by an announcement from Netanyahu's office that ministers were under orders to withhold public comment, reflected Israel's worries about the efficacy of foreign efforts to negotiate with Iran.
The IAEA said it has received the text of the joint declaration by Iran, Brazil and Turkey but was now expecting Tehran to notify it directly of what commitments it had undertaken.
"We are now expecting written notification from Iran that it agrees with the relevant provisions included in the declaration," IAEA spokeswoman Gill Tudor said on Monday.
The so-called Vienna Group made an offer last October to ship most of Iran's LEU out of the country in return for higher grade reactor fuel to be supplied by Russia and France.
Iran stalled on the deal insisting it wants a simultaneous swap on its own soil, which was rejected by world powers.
China welcomes deal
Monday's accord signed in Tehran commits Iran to deposit 1,200 kilograms (2,640 pounds) of low enriched uranium (LEU) in Turkey in return for fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
Mehmanparast said if the Islamic republic reaches agreement with the countries involved in the initial IAEA-backed deal, it "will pave the way for more nuclear cooperation."
China on Tuesday welcomed the nuclear fuel swap plan, urging negotiations over the deepening dispute even as Western powers condemned the new deal as too limited.
Western powers have already said the offer will not be enough to ease their worries about Iran. But Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi suggested his government was encouraged by the proposal and favors further negotiations.
"China has noted the relevant reports and expresses its welcome and appreciation for the diplomatic efforts all parties have made to positively seek an appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," the Foreign Ministry website quoted him as saying.
"China has consistently advocated safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation system. At the same time, China considers we should resolve the Iran nuclear issue through the channels of dialogue and negotiations."
Yang's published comments did not touch on whether China believes the nuclear fuel swap proposal means those sanctions discussions should be delayed, and a Foreign Ministry spokesman also sidestepped a direct question. But both stressed that Beijing prefers a negotiated solution to the dispute.
AFP. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report
