Iran letter to inform IAEA on declaration

Iran has formally announced its willingness to brief the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Islamic Republic's tripartite nuclear deceleration.



Iran's permanent IAEA envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh has informed the agency that Tehran is ready to submit a letter on its nuclear fuel swap declaration, under the 6th article of the document, a Friday statement by Iran's Supreme National Security Council read.

Upon the announcement, the office of IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano set May 24 as the date for Soltanieh to meet with Amano in Vienna and hand in the communiqué, added the statement, a copy of which was obtained by Press TV.

Soltanieh in his meeting will be accompanied by the representatives of Brazil and Turkey -- the countries that Iran issued the nuclear fuel swap declaration with on Monday.

The 6th article of the Tehran declaration stipulates that "Iran will notify the IAEA in writing through official channels of its agreement with the above within seven days following the date of this declaration."

Under the declaration Tehran agreed to send some 1,200 kg of its 3.5 percent-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for a total of 120 kg of 20 percent-enriched uranium.

"Upon the positive response of the Vienna Group (US, Russia, France and the IAEA) further details of the exchange will be elaborated on through a written agreement and proper arrangement between Iran and the Vienna Group that specifically committed themselves to delivering 120 kilograms of fuel needed for the Tehran research reactor," the article further read.

The declaration received a warm welcome from different heads of states and international organizations, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who hailed the move as an "encouraging" initiative.

The declaration is "an important initiative in resolving international tensions over Iran's nuclear program by peaceful means," he said, expressing hope that "this and other initiatives may open the door to a negotiated settlement