New sanctions against Iran will force Teheran to reconsider the uranium swap deal, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said at a press-conference with RIA Novosti.
A trilateral agreement on uranium exchange was reached on May 17 by Iran, Turkey and Brazil, setting out terms under which Iran will send 1.2 tons of its low-enriched uranium to get 120 kg of enriched to 20% uranium fuel. If approved, the swap will be carried out throughout the year on Turkey's territory.
The United Nations Security Council gathered in New York last week to discuss a draft resolution imposing a new set of sanctions on the Islamic Republic, which is accused by Western powers of attempting to build nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian energy program.
The ambassador said that the Security Council should support the swap deal instead of talking about new sanctions against Iran.
"If new sanctions are imposed against Iran, it will be clear to the Iranian people that the international 'Six' has only malice and only follows political motives," he said. "This will force us to reconsider the Tehran agreement."
The IAEA has already received a letter, signed by Iran, Turkey and Brazil, which commits Iran to sending low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for supplies of higher-grade uranium needed for a medical research reactor.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said on Monday if the Iranian offer is approved by the IAEA and other involved parties such as Russia, France and the United States, who together proposed the original fuel swap deal six months ago, it could open a possibility for solving the controversial problem.
MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti)
