Ban says Tehran declaration builds trust

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describes the Tehran fuel swap declaration as a positive step at easing international tension over Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran, Brazil and Turkey signed an agreement earlier this month in which Tehran agreed to ship out its low enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for 20 percent enriched uranium for the Tehran research reactor.

Following a May 24 meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano, the UN chief welcomed the declaration as a major “confidence-building measure,” saying, “It could open the door for a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.”

While the Tehran declaration was hailed by much of the international community, the US and some Western countries said it did not ease their concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, and circulated a draft resolution to impose new UN Security Council sanctions against the country.

Ban arrived in Brazil on Thursday to attend the 3rd Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Rio de Janeiro.