Tehran/Paris- The Iranian envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Thursday that there would be no direct cooperation with France in a proposed uranium exchange deal. "We have declared that we want our cooperation in this within a contract with Russia. France and the United States can join the deal, but indirectly," said Ali-Asghar Soltanieh in an interview with the news agencies ISNA and Fars.
According to the draft agreement, Iran is to ship 1,200 kilograms of low-enriched uranium (3.5 per cent) to Russia before the end of the year for further enrichment (20 per cent), to be used as fuel in Iran's medical-purpose reactor in Tehran.
The three-day meeting between Iran, Russia, France and the United States ended Wednesday in Vienna with no final agreement, but with a proposal to be mulled by the four sides until Friday.
"We have not reached a final agreement with France (for direct cooperation)," the Iranian IAEA envoy said.
But a spokesman for the French foreign ministry told journalists in Paris, "France is part of this agreement. Considering its industrial capabilities, it should produce the fuel." During the Vienna talks, France offered to take the material from Russia and turn it into actual fuel elements, but Iran insisted that France should not be part of the agreement.
A French diplomat in Vienna said France's possible nuclear fuel manufacturing was not contained in the draft agreement. The French foreign ministry spokesman said "intense discussions must be held with the IAEA to examine procedures" when the agreement is signed.
Iran rejects direct nuclear cooperation with France because of a dispute over Tehran's minority share in France's uranium enrichment company.
In addition, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been vocal in calling for new sanctions if Iran does not cooperate on its contentious nuclear programme.
Soltanieh, however, said he hoped the final agreement would suit all sides and, at the same time, meet Iran's interests.
