U.S. to review Iran uranium swap proposal

Technicians measuring parts of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant in this undated photo.

State Department spokesman says it is 'unclear' whether letter detailing the proposal 'offers anything new.'

The United States will review Iran's proposal to ship enriched uranium to Turkey and plans to consult with France and Russia on the next steps, the U.S. State Department said Monday.
Iran along with Brazil and Turkey submitted the letter to the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, earlier Monday outlining the deal intended to alleviate concerns about Iran's nuclear activities and stave off potential sanctions.


"It's unclear if the letter truly offers anything new," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said. "But we will study it closely, and we'll respond formally through the IAEA in the next few days."
The United States and its allies have drawn up a sanctions resolution currently being considered by the UN Security Council to punish Iran for its nuclear program.
The United States suspects Iran is using the program to develop weapons - charges Tehran rejects.
Brazil and Turkey mediated the agreement, but the United States and other countries believe it does not go far enough to address the full range of Iran's activities, including plans to continue enriching uranium.
"Our concerns about Iran go beyond just issues regarding the Tehran research reactor -- both the unwillingness of Iran to engage seriously with the international community, in
particular with the P-5 plus one, in addition to the ongoing enrichment of nuclear material, to 20 percent, and Iran's continued defiance of several UN Security Council resolutions," Crowley said.
The uranium swap was based on one worked out between the United States, France and Russia and offered to Iran in October, but Tehran's refusal to accept the terms in the months since prompted Washington to push for Security Council sanctions.