More Details on Nuclear Swap Need Further Clarifications

 

February 06, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki visiting Germany on Saturday announced Iran and the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have reached an agreement over nuclear fuel swap, but final details of the agreement need further clarifications.

 

‘The most important thing is that both sides recognize the fuel swap formula,’ Ria Novosti Quoted the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

 

It still remains unclear where the swap will take place or the actual amount of LEU to be shipped abroad. Also it’s unclear what type of guarantee Tehran could receive for simply ship a large amount of enriched uranium out of the country. Given Iran’s extensive distrust of the West particularly its bad experiences with France, a country that has repeatedly failed to honor nuclear contracts with Iran, it would be futile to assume France, US, UK and Germany have actually changed their policies regarding this issue.

 

France has twice already renegade nuclear contracts with Iran one involving supply of low enriched uranium from Eurodif company and the other it commitments to supply 50 tons of yellowcake (UF6) to Iran.

 

The Iranian Foreign Minister was optimistic about the new nuclear swap deal however when he said earlier this week,’ We have said that if you (the West) act honestly; we will cooperate with you.’ And regarding the nuclear swap agreement Mottaki said,’ the amount of uranium [to be shipped outside the country] is negotiable. But I am confident that a solution can be found.’