Iran welcomes Turkish, Brazilian nuclear fuel ideas

Iran over the weekend voiced optimism about Turkish and Brazilian mediation efforts in its nuclear dispute with the West, saying it welcomes in principle ideas aimed at reviving a stalled nuclear fuel deal with major powers. Turkey and Brazil , both non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, have been trying to resuscitate the fuel plan in a bid to stave off further sanctions on Iran . The Obama administration last week accused Tehran of trying to buy time by accepting Brazil 's offer to mediate, saying that the US would be undeterred in its push for punitive new UN measures. Asked about the Turkish and Brazilian proposals, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, "New formulas have been raised about the exchange of fuel," in remarks covered by Iranian dailies on Saturday. "I think we can arrive at practical agreements on these formulas. That is why we welcomed the proposals in principle ... and left the details for more examination." Last year's UN-drafted plan revolved around Iran sending uranium abroad for further processing to help ease concerns about Iran 's atomic ambitions. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has had talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in recent weeks and has indicated that she would be willing to meet the Iranians, possibly in Turkey , "this side of the summer." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will soon travel to Tehran to work on a negotiated solution with Iran , his foreign minister told Reuters on Friday, adding that he sees a window of opportunity. The fuel plan is seen as a way to remove much of Iran 's low-enriched uranium (LEU) stockpile to minimize the risk of this being used for atomic bombs, while Iran would get specially processed fuel to keep its nuclear medicine program running. But the proposal broke down over Iran 's insistence on doing the swap only on its territory, rather than shipping its LEU abroad in advance, and in smaller, phased amounts, meaning no meaningful cut to its growing stockpile. Western officials have dismissed an Iranian counterproposal. The US is lobbying UN Security Council members to back sanctions including proposed measures targeting Iranian banks, shipping and the country's all-important energy sector. European diplomatic sources have said a new round of UN sanctions against Iran is set to be ready by mid-June and that a draft proposal could go before the Security Council within the next week. Efforts were now being made to convince as many as possible of the 10 non-permanent members of the 15-member council to back the measures.