The offer of leading powers to supply nuclear fuel to the Tehran research reactor remains valid, the French Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday in view of a new round of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.
"The sextet (five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) made the proposal to Iran in October 2009. The proposal is still valid. The sextet is waiting for an Iranian reply, but it has not been given," he said, ITAR-TASS reported.
The proposal implies the Iranian sending of 1,200 kilograms of low enriched uranium to Russia for further enrichment. The radioactive material will then be handed over to France, where fuel assemblies for the Tehran reactor will be produced.
The reactor produces medical isotopes. Experts say it cannot be used for military purposes.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said earlier in the day that Iran had agreed to hold another round of nuclear program negotiations with the sextet on December 6-7. She did not say where the negotiations might take place, but other sources named Geneva.
Russian and Israeli diplomats discussed the situation around the Iranian nuclear program in Moscow on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"There was a detailed discussion of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, including regional aspects," the ministry said. "Much attention was given to the Iranian nuclear program."
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