Speaking to the press, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Turkish and Brazilian participation in the talks would be useful. In June, Iran signed an agreement with Turkey and Brazil under which it agreed to send 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for 120 kilograms of uranium fuel enriched up to 20 percent. The fuel is to be used in a medical research reactor in Tehran.
The deal, almost identical to a plan offered to Iran last year by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), failed to stop the US from pursuing sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council. The sanctions were passed while Turkey and Brazil, both non-permanent members of the 15-nation body, voted against.
Mehmanparast said Iran was ready for the talks with Vienna Group, which consists of the IAEA, the United States, Russia and France but that there should be a consensus on the time and place of the talks. He also reiterated that the talks should be based on the Tehran Declaration, referring to the June deal with Turkey and Brazil.
On Monday, a senior Iranian lawmaker said it would be “natural” that Brazil and Turkey participate in Iran’s talks with the Vienna Group as they are the architects of the Tehran Declaration.
Iran, Turkey and Brazil must be present at the negotiating table, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said.
