The U.S. is giving Iran a time limit - not the other way around, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.
"We have given a deferment to the U.S. and we have determined the time. They are aware of the time period," he said, replying to a question asked about the time limit the U.S. has set for Iran.
If the U.S and the West make a wise decision to ensure the Tehran reactor has the needed nuclear fuel, Iran will hail the move, Mottaki said.
"If the U.S and the West make a wise decision on purchasing or exchanging the necessary nuclear fuel, then we will hail the move," he declared.
The West has asked Iran to transfer 1,200 kilograms of 3.5-percent enriched uranium to Russia in exchange for 20-percent enriched uranium to provide fuel for the reactor's laboratory.
The Tehran laboratory reactor was built 40 years ago by the U.S. Its main function is to produce medicine. Acquiring 30 kg of 19.75-percent enriched uranium from Argentina, Iran provided the laboratory with fuel for the last time in 1993.
