Iran confirms nuclear fuel swap to IAEA

Iran formally notifies the UN atomic watchdog of its response to a nuclear fuel swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil.

Iran formally notified the UN atomic watchdog today of its response to a nuclear fuel swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil. Iranian, Brazilian and Turkish representatives, as well as officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), all arrived at 10.30am local time for a 45-minute meeting with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano at his residence in central Vienna. Coming out of the meeting, the Iranian official confirmed to reporters outside that he had handed over Tehran's letter.

The IAEA has been waiting for a written response from Iran ever since Tehran signed a deal last week with Brazil and Turkey ? non-permanent members of the UN Security Council ? to ship over half of its low-enriched uranium abroad in exchange for fuel for a Tehran medical research reactor. The IAEA itself did not immediately comment on the content of the letter. Western governments' reaction has been dismissive of the deal, which they have said fails to address international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme.

Washington has pressed ahead with circulating a new sanctions resolution. * AFP