Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Vienna Group must give positive response to Tehran Declaration

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Ankara, May 27, IRNA -- Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin said on Thursday that it is the legitimate right of Iran and Turkey to expect the Vienna Group to give a positive response to Tehran Declaration.

He made the remarks in a press conference in Ankara.

Turkey expects the Vienna Group -- the U.S., France and Russia -- to adopt constructive stand about the Tehran Declaration, he said.

Praising the tripartite agreement inked by Iran, Turkey and Brazil on May 17, he said “We do not claim that the declaration will cover all aspects of the Iranian peaceful nuclear program but the fuel swap deal will be a significant development to this end and it is now their turn to give positive response to such declaration.”

Iran demanded the International Atomic Energy Agency make arrangements with suppliers of 20 percent enriched uranium to deliver fuel for Tehran medical research reactor last year.

The IAEA gave a proposal on fuel swap with France according to which Iran would take delivery of 20 percent fuel in return for 3.5 percent enriched uranium.

Iran said that it needs objective guarantees for the swap citing France's poor record in honoring its nuclear commitments.

Iran says the French uranium enrichment company, Eurodif, has failed to honor its undertaking to deliver fuel to Tehran medical research reactor in 1970s and that the IAEA and the Vienna Group must give objective guarantees for the swap.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey took up an initiative to mediate between Iran and the Vienna Group to carry out the swap.

The Brazilian and Turkish leaders and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agreed on practical steps for the swap on March 17 according to which Iran will ship 1,200 kg 3.5 percent enriched uranium to Turkey and will take delivery of 20 percent fuel from Turkey.

Turkey is responsible to make sure about supply of 20 percent fuel to be delivered by either U.S., France or Russia and will exchange it under supervision of the IAEA.