VIENNA, Austria – Six world powers have readied a resolution critical of Iran’s nuclear program, diplomats said yesterday as Tehran suggested it was still ready to discuss a U.N.-backed plan meant to delay Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapon.
The plan would have Iran export its uranium for enrichment in Russia and France, for conversion into fuel rods to be returned to Iran about a year later.
The six powers embraced the plan because it would have committed Iran to ship out about 70 percent of its enriched-uranium stockpile. Tehran initially appeared to agree, only to backtrack in recent weeks.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said yesterday that no one in Iran “ever said … that we are opposed to shipping out our uranium,” adding, “What has been discussed is the method to ship out this material.”
