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Tehran calls on West to act fast

Parties involved in fuel supply talks to Tehran’s research reactor will have to act fast as half of the two-month deadline has gone by, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says.

The West is pressuring Iran to accept a UN-backed draft deal, which would require the country to send most of its domestically-produced low enriched uranium (LEU) abroad to be converted into more refined fuel for the Tehran reactor that produces medical isotopes.

The research reactor in the capital, which produces much needed radiomedicine for cancer patients, is soon expected to run out of fuel. Iran has demanded the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to arrange the fuel to be provided to the country.

Iran, however, has not accepted the proposal, calling for “concrete guarantees” for the return of its fuel as some Western countries’ have previously failed to adhere to their nuclear commitments with regards to Tehran.

“During negotiations between Iran and concerned parties, it was agreed that Iran should receive nuclear fuel for its research reactor and should the parties fail to do so, Iran has the right to produce the required fuel on its own,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Tehran the spokesman said that during the October meetings in Vienna “some countries had requested a two-month extension to the agreement.”

Iran had accepted the request but the clock is ticking on the agreed deadline.

“One month has already gone by, and if we are not provided with nuclear fuel the Islamic Republic will decide accordingly,” Mehman-parast continued.

The US has refused to consider Iran’s concerns on the deal and insists the UN-backed draft deal, which was first proposed by the Obama administration is “unchangeable.”

This is while Iran, as the buyer of nuclear fuel, has the right to set conditions or ask for guarantees in the event of any purchase or swap deal.

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