Iran ready to swap enriched uranium abroad: FM spokesman

Iran is ready to swap abroad its low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel, the foreign ministry's spokesman said today, insisting that the exchange should happen in several stages.

Iran is ready to swap abroad its low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel, the foreign ministry's spokesman said today, insisting that the exchange should happen in several stages.

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Iran is ready for "fuel swap in several stages and has said that this can be an opportunity for the two sides" to
build confidence, Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters.

"If this principle is accepted by the other party, we can discuss other details, mainly the location of this
exchange. Some have named Japan, Brazil, Turkey or even (Iran's) Kish Island. All this can be discussed."

The spokesman did not elaborate further.

Less than a week ago, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran is open to exchanging uranium on Turkish
soil.

We are not opposed to carry out the exchange of 400 kilos of uranium with 3.5 purity on Turkish soil or any other
soil. But the cooperation should be both sides," Mottaki was quoted as saying.

Iran proposed in mid-December to exchange 400 kilos of uranium on its Kish island in the Gulf, Mottaki was quoted
by the Fars news agency as saying.

But the United States bluntly dismissed the offer.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had already ruled out such a swap taking
place on Iranian soil.