Ahmadinejad: Iran ready to send uranium abroad as UN wants

In policy about-face, Iranian president rejects critics, saying that if West doesn't fulfill deal, Iran will resume uranium enrichment on its own.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 311 (photo credit: AP)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 311
(photo credit: AP)
TEHERAN - Iran said on Tuesday it was ready to send its uranium abroad for further enrichment as requested by the UN.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the decision in an interview with state Iranian television.
He said Iran will have "no problem" giving the West its low enriched uranium and taking it back several months later when it is enriched by 20 percent.
The decision is a major shift in the Iranian position on the issue.
For months, Iranian officials have used the media to criticize the plan and offer alternatives to one of its main conditions — shipping the uranium abroad for enrichment.
The West suspects that Iran's nuclear program is geared towardacquiring atomic weapons. Iran denies the charge and says the programis for peaceful purposes.
"If we allow them to take it, there isno problem. We sign a contract to give 3.5 percent enriched uranium andreceive 20 percent enriched one after four or five months," Ahmadinejadsaid.
He dismissed concerns by what he called "colleagues" thatthe West would not return the uranium, saying Iran would respond tothat by continuing to produce its own enriched uranium.