Iran is ready to exchange one ton of 3.5-percent enriched uranium to 100kg of 20-percent enriched uranium from France to provide fuel for the Tehran nuclear reactor, but the exchange should be guaranteed, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying by Mehr.
According to Salehi, Iran does not trust in the Western countries, and they have lost confidence in them. "That's, 31 years have passed since Iran handed over France 50 tons of uranium for enrichment, and up to now, uranium has not been enriched and returned to Iran. The United States also had to give us the necessary fuel for the Tehran reactor, they have received money from us to transfer this fuel, but they do not return either the money or fuel," said Salehi.
According to him, this distrust compels requiring practical guarantees in order to have confidence in obtaining 20 percent uranium instead of fuel provided by Iran.
Salehi said that there are no problems associated with the exchange of uranium: a proposal was presented to IAEA regarding the exchange and it adopted it. "Under the new proposal, we will give the IAEA one ton 3.5 percent uranium on the Iranian territory, they will seal and keep it till we get 20-percent enriched uranium," said Salehi.
The West demands Iran to transfer 1,200 kg of 3.5-percent enriched uranium to Russia and receive a 20-percent enriched uranium from France to provide fuel for the Tehran nuclear reactor.
The Tehran laboratory reactor was built 40 years ago by the United States and its main function is to produce medicine.
The United States and other western countries have accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons for military purposes under the guise of a peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying that its nuclear program is aimed solely at meeting the country's electricity needs. The U.N. Security Council adopted five resolutions in connection with the suspension of Iran's nuclear program. Three involve the use of economic sanctions on Iran.