Iran - nuclear deal

Tehran to accept nuclear deal framework, TV reports

Article published on the 2009-10-27 Latest update 2009-10-27 11:54 TU

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) shakes hands with Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in Tehran
(Photo: Reuters)

Iran will accept the framework of the UN-brokered uranium deal, a source close to negotiators has told local television, but Tehran wants important changes.

The official response will come within 48 hours, the source told the Arab-language television channel Al-Alam.

But French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner accused Tehran of "wasting time", when he arrived at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg Tuesday.

"We need answers," he said. "We have all shown a great deal of patience."

Tehran missed a Friday deadline when the deal was agreed by the US, France and Russia.

Al-Alam says that it is likely to ask for less uranium to be delivered than proposed in the deal, allowing it to keep more of its own production, and to want changes in the way it is delivered.

Turklish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tehran late Monday, accompanied by ministers, MPs and business leaders.

Erdogan, who on Monday criticised the UN Security Council's attitude to Iran, hopes to boost trade between the two countries from the present eight billion euros to 13 billion euros.