U.S., Russia, France respond to Iran nuclear proposals

The United States, Russia and France have formally replied to Iran's proposals for a nuclear fuel swap, just hours before the United Nations votes on new sanctions against Tehran.

The governments of the three countries handed letters to Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Wednesday, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a statement.

"I will continue to use my good offices to follow up on this new development with the concerned governments," Amano said in the statement,which did not reveal details of the letters.

The letters were delivered only hours before a key vote by the UN Security Council on a draft resolution on imposing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Diplomats said the three countries raised concerns with IAEA about the new proposals brokered last month by Brazil and Turkey.

On May 17, Iran, Turkey and Brazil signed a joint declaration in Tehran to endorse a fuel swap, under which Iran will ship most of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for the 20 percent uranium fuel needed for its reactor.

Western powers have said Iran's new proposals did not solve core doubts about its nuclear program.

Source:Xinhua