The twists and turns of Iran nuclear fuel deal

Here are key developments since an IAEA nuclear fuel deal aimed at allaying concerns over the Tehran’s atomic ambitions was proposed on October 19 after talks between the United States, Russia, France and Iran.

October 21

·         IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei refuses to reveal details about the draft deal, but calls it a “balanced approach to move forward.”

·         France says the deal envisages sending Iran’s 1,200 kilograms of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) to Russia and France for conversion into fuel for a research reactor.

This would allay fears that the uranium — which Iran produced in defiance of the United Nations — could be used to build an atomic bomb.

·         Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, calls the proposal, which is also backed by most world powers, “very positive.”

October 23

·         The IAEA says Iran will respond to the deal in a week.

October 24

·         Parliament speaker Ali Larijani calls the deal an attempt to “cheat” Iran.

October 26

·         Russia calls for “maximum patience” with Tehran.

·         Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says Iran is mulling the deal and “may deliver a part of our (low-enriched uranium) fuel that we don’t need.”

October 27

·         Senior Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Borujerdi opposes sending Tehran’s LEU abroad in one batch.

·         State television reports Iran will accept the deal’s broad framework but wants “very important changes.”

October 29

·         Hardline Javan newspaper says Iran will propose two amendments — offering its LEU in several batches and receiving highly enriched uranium fuel at the same time as it hands over LEU stock.

·         Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says conditions are ripe for a deal because Western policy has gone from “confrontation to cooperation.”

·         The IAEA confirms receiving Iran’s “initial response,” nearly 10 days after the deal was proposed.

October 30

·         Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls the deal “a positive first step.”

·         Iran says it wants more talks on how to procure nuclear fuel for the Tehran reactor before giving its final reply.

·         White House spokesman Robert Gibbs warns Tehran does not have “unlimited time” to accept the offer.

November 2

·         Iran calls for a review of the deal.

·         Soltanieh says Tehran is “ready to buy the fuel under the supervision of the agency from any producer.”

·         France says world powers will “not accept” Iran’s delaying tactics.

·         ElBaradei urges Iran to respond right away, while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Tehran was at a “pivotal moment.”

November 3

·         Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slams the United States, saying: “Every time they have a smile on their face, they are hiding a dagger behind their back.”

·         US President Barack Obama says Iran “must choose” whether to open the door to opportunity and prosperity, but stresses Washington recognises “Iran’s international right to peaceful nuclear power.”

November 4

·         ElBaradei says Iran accepting the deal could “be the door to a stable Middle East.”

November 7

·         Borujerdi says Iran refuses to send its LEU abroad.

·         Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns Iran could face new sanctions.

November 9

·         The New York Times reports that Washington has told Iran it is willing to let Tehran send its LEU to Turkey for safekeeping, but Tehran offered a counter-proposal to store it on its Persian Gulf resort island of Kish.

November 15

·         Obama says Iran is “running out of time.”

November 16

·         Soltanieh says Tehran will continue enriching uranium.

November 17

·         Obama says Iran faces “consequences” if it resists greater openness on its nuclear programme.

·         Mottaki says Iran will not send its LEU abroad, and says Tehran was ready to “consider swapping the fuel simultaneously in Iran.”

November 20

·         ElBaradei says Tehran has still not provided its “final answer.”

November 24

·         Iran’s atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi says Tehran is ready to send its LEU abroad provided there is simultaneous exchange on its own soil of nuclear fuel processed by world powers.

November 25

·         ElBaradei says a fuel swap inside Iran is “not an option.”