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Can you confirm that under the IAEA draft agreement, nuclear cores would be manufactured in France, at Tricastin? The uranium enriched to 19.75 percent would come from Russia. Once transformed into nuclear cores, would it go back to Russia or directly to Iran? . . .
The Vienna meeting organized by the IAEA and attended by France, the United States, Russia and Iran could follow up on the proposals put forth by the IAEA with respect to Iran's demand that fuel be supplied to the Tehran Research Reactor. This reactor is used mainly to produce radioisotopes for medical purposes.
The IAEA proposes to use 1,200 kilos of low-enriched uranium produced in Natanz, to export it to Russia for further enrichment and then on to France to manufacture fuel. The 1,200 kilos should leave Iran in a single shipment before the end of the year. Following the meeting, the IAEA submitted a draft agreement on this mechanism to the four governments, to be approved by tomorrow.
This project reflects the demands of the United States, Russia and France. Iran has not yet responded to this plan.
If there is an agreement, Iran could continue producing radioisotopes for medical purposes while making a helpful gesture that could contribute to reducing tensions on the nuclear issue. From this standpoint, the proposal complements the demands formulated by the Six, and more broadly by the international community, with respect to Iran vis-à -vis concerns over the purposes of its nuclear program: the double-freeze to open negotiations, the demand for full transparency and cooperation with the IAEA on the enrichment plant in Qom, and on studies that could be linked to nuclear weapons.
France has a stake in this agreement. Because of its industrial know-how, it was asked to manufacture fuel. It stands ready to participate in the operation according to the terms of the draft agreement presented by Mohamed ElBaradei. If the agreement is signed, Russia and the IAEA can engage in more in-depth technical discussions to examine the modalities.
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