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US impedes Iran’s N-fuel swap talks

A senior Russian official has expressed concern about Washington’s effort to hinder the resumption of nuclear talks with Iran over a fuel swap deal, a report says.

The Russian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he is concerned by the fact that the US has delayed the negotiation process aimed at resolving the standoff between the West and Iran over the country’s nuclear activity, Reuters reported on Monday.

“I am concerned by the fact that the United States slowed down the process,” the senior government official told Russia’s Valdai International Discussion Club when asked about the fuel deal.

Foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration in the Iranian capital Tehran on May 17, according to which the Islamic Republic 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.

But the West effectively disregarded the declaration by imposing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

After the West’s continued refusal to supply Iran with nuclear fuel, Tehran declared that it will enrich uranium up to 20 percent.

“It is not realistic that Iran will give up the enrichment up to four percent,” the official added.

The Russian official further criticized the unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington and Brussels on Iran.

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