Vienna - Iran has provided an "initial response" to a planned international nuclear fuel deal, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Thursday, adding that more consultations were needed. Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, earlier told ISNA news agency that his country had a positive approach to the deal but that it asked for "important technical and economic amendments" ot the plan drafted by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei.
"The Director General is engaged in consultations with the government of Iran as well as all relevant parties, with the hope that agreement on his proposal can be reached soon," the IAEA said.
ElBaradei's draft plan foresees sending most of Iran's stock of lowe-enriched uranium abroad for further processing into fuel that would run a medical-use research reactor in Tehran.
The United States, Russia and France agreed already last Friday to the deal that is seen as a confidence-building measure, following negotiations with Iran and the IAEA earlier that week.
