ID :
136073
Wed, 08/04/2010 - 12:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/136073
The shortlink copeid
Prospects good for fuel exchange talks: Iran's official
TEHRAN, Aug. 4 (MNA) -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says there are good signs that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program could start soon.
"Positive steps have been taken with respect to a fuel exchange, and the two sides have signaled that they are ready” to resume talks, Mehmanparast said at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.
The Vienna group (the United States, Russia, and France) is also preparing for the nuclear talks, he added.
He expressed hope that negotiations on the nuclear fuel swap deal would begin soon.
On the sidelines of a lecture in Singapore, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano told Reuters that he had received a “positive reaction” from the Vienna group and the IAEA for the prompt resumption of talks on the fuel swap deal.
However, he said that he was not sure what the outcome of the talks would be.
“But starting a dialogue is very important… If we can have a discussion on this issue, it will be positive progress,” Amano added.
The U.S. State Department announced last week that Washington was “fully prepared” to resume talks between the six major powers and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran believes the Tehran Declaration, which was signed by the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil in the Iranian capital last May, should be the starting point for the talks.
On May 17, Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration, according to which Iran would ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
"Positive steps have been taken with respect to a fuel exchange, and the two sides have signaled that they are ready” to resume talks, Mehmanparast said at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.
The Vienna group (the United States, Russia, and France) is also preparing for the nuclear talks, he added.
He expressed hope that negotiations on the nuclear fuel swap deal would begin soon.
On the sidelines of a lecture in Singapore, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano told Reuters that he had received a “positive reaction” from the Vienna group and the IAEA for the prompt resumption of talks on the fuel swap deal.
However, he said that he was not sure what the outcome of the talks would be.
“But starting a dialogue is very important… If we can have a discussion on this issue, it will be positive progress,” Amano added.
The U.S. State Department announced last week that Washington was “fully prepared” to resume talks between the six major powers and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran believes the Tehran Declaration, which was signed by the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil in the Iranian capital last May, should be the starting point for the talks.
On May 17, Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration, according to which Iran would ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
