Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has agreed “in principle’ to Brazilian mediation in a stalled United Nations-backed nuclear fuel swap deal.
A statement issued Wednesday by the Iranian president’s office says Mr. Ahmadinejad spoke about Brazil’s offer of mediation during a conversation with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday.
The U.N. deal calls for Tehran to send its uranium to Russia for enrichment. It would then be sent to France, converted into fuel rods and sent back to Iran to power a nuclear reactor.
Iran has said it would only accept a fuel exchange on Iranian soil.
Brazil previously has called on the international community to show flexibility on the deal.
The United States is leading a diplomatic push to get Brazil and other U.N. Security Council members to approve a fourth round of sanctions on Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear program.
The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.
