Washington will wait for Iran's response

France, Russia and the US have all backed a proposal whereby the Russians will enrich the uranium Iran needs for a research reactor, but are still waiting to hear back from Tehran.

  • AP
  • Published: 20:43 October 24, 2009

Washington/Tehran: The US can wait a few days for Iran's response to a UN-brokered deal on its nuclear programme, President Barack Obama's administration has said, signalling it would not wait indefinitely.

France, Russia and the US have all backed a proposal whereby the Russians will enrich the uranium Iran needs for a research reactor, but are still waiting to hear back from Tehran.

Iran put off until next week a formal response to the plan to ship much of its uranium to Russia for enrichment, the country's nuclear envoy said.Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Tehran is still studying the proposal and would inform the UN nuclear watchdog "next week about our evaluation."

"We are working and elaborating on all the details of this proposal," Soltanieh told state Press TV.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said: "I think we can stretch things a few days. But we're not going to wait forever."

Meanwhile, an Israeli minister said they are concerned that Iran will use the current climate of international goodwill as a cover to pursue its goal of becoming a nuclear power.

Related Links

Vice-Prime Minister Silvan Shalo, who is also the minister for regional development, said he discussed Iran's nuclear ambitions with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
 

Most Popular on Gulf News (last hour)
Best of web video by GNTV
Editor's choice


Popular in Pictures

Weekly Forecast

Shelley von Strunckel reveals what's in the stars for this week

Most Popular This Week