Iranian experts can enrich 20-percent uranium and are not restricted from enriching over five-percent uranium in international treaties, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying today by the Iranian Mehr news agency.
"The Tehran reactor fuel requires 20-percent enriched uranium," he said.
Regarding the timing of the launch of 20-percent uranium enrichment, Mehmanparast said "the process of enrichment has not yet begun, but we can start anytime."
Expressing his attitude toward Iran's export of 3.5-percent enriched uranium, he said that there are three options to provide fuel to the Tehran reactor. First is to purchase the necessary fuel, second to produce in Iran, and third to exchange.
"We were never against exporting the country's 3.5-percent enriched uranium. Perhaps they talked about how this can be done. Iran wants guarantees to purchase fuel for the reactor," he said.
According to the official, Iran demands an absolute guarantee due to mistrust issues.
"Countries with which we negotiate do not have enough credibility with the Iranian public. These countries have had a number of commitments to Tehran and failed to comply. We do not want a repeat of past problems," Mehmanparast said.
The West demands that Iran 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.