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Iran Agrees 'In Principle' to Mediation in Nuclear Deal

   VOA News 05 May 2010
   Iranian  President  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives for a news conference,
   during  his  visit to attend the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)
   conference at the United Nations headquarters, 4 May 2010

Photo: AP

   Iranian  President  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives for a news conference,
   during  his  visit to attend the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)
   conference at the United Nations headquarters, 4 May 2010

   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.

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

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