Iran: Tehran Declaration, swap basis

Iran has reiterated its stance on a fuel swap deal with the West, saying any such deal will be acceptable only within the framework of the May Tehran Declaration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Wednesday said if the Vienna Group is prepared to enter negotiations based on this framework, a time and location for the talks can be agreed on.

France, Russia, the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) make up the so-called Vienna Group.

The declaration singed between Iran, Turkey and Brazil back on May 17, provides for Tehran to ship most of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for higher enriched fuel it needs for the Tehran research reactor.

The Islamic Republic has rejected Western allegations of having a military nuclear program as groundless and totally speculative, insisting that its nuclear activity is solely aimed at meeting the country’s growing domestic research and energy demands.

Iran also cites numerous IAEA reports which confirm the country’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and dismisses allegations of any deviation from a civilian program.

Tehran blames Washington — the first and only country to use an atomic bomb against another nation — for possessing the world’s largest nuclear arsenal and condemns it for condoning and supporting Israel’s military nuclear activities.