MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia has agreed to the proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enrich Iranian uranium, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"Russia experts attended the meeting where the proposals were developed on behalf of the IAEA, formulated by the IAEA director-general. We have agreed to these proposals and we hope that not only Iran but also all the other parties to the talks will confirm preparedness to implement the proposed scheme," he said.
Currently, representatives from the United States, Russia, France, the IAEA and Iran are meeting in Vienna to discuss possible supplies of enriched uranium for the Iranian research reactor.
The negotiators reached a preliminary agreement in Vienna the day earlier, media outlets said. A draft final document was sent for approval to the negotiating parties: the U.S., France, Russia and Iran.
The main idea of these proposals is that uranium initially enriched in Iran will be sent to Russia for 19.75% enrichment. Then this uranium will be sent to France, which, using U.S. technologies, will manufacture fuel assemblies.
This uranium will be subsequently used by the Iranian research reactor for medical purposes.
The current talks in Vienna are the result of the arrangements reached at a meeting of the political directors from the six negotiating nations (the five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) in Geneva on October 1.