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France Rejects Iran's Nuclear Ultimatum

   VOA News 04 January 2010

   France is rejecting Iran's latest effort to set the terms of a nuclear
   fuel deal with world powers.
   Foreign  Minister  Bernard  Kouchner  told  French  radio  Monday  the
   international  community  will  not accept an Iranian ultimatum on its
   nuclear  program.   He  said discussions with Tehran can continue, but
   not about nuclear development.
   Iran  ignored the December 31 deadline to accept a U.N.-backed deal to
   enrich its uranium overseas for use in its nuclear research reactor.
   On  Saturday, Tehran announced that the West had one month to accept a
   counterproposal,  or  else it will begin making fuel on its own.  Iran
   is  proposing  to buy fuel from the West, or exchange uranium for fuel
   rods in smaller batches.
   The  U.S. National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer says Iran is
   "standing in its own way" by issuing that ultimatum.
   Iran  says  its nuclear program is peaceful and that the uranium would
   be used for a medical-research reactor.
   Western  nations  believe  the country is building a nuclear bomb, and
   are now considering tougher sanctions against Tehran.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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