国际英语新闻：Iran hopes nuclear fuel swap in near future: FM

TEHRAN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here on Tuesday that Iran hopes a nuclear fuel swap will be implemented in the near future.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim, Mottaki said Tehran and Brasilia "share the opinion that the fuel exchange can be the ground for confidence-building for all the sides involved."

"We hope the fuel exchange will be implemented in the near future," said Mottaki.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (R) talks with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorin during a joint press conference in Tehran, capital of Iran, April 27, 2010. Mottaki said that Iran is willing to consider enriching uranium in other countries as suggested by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The International Atomic Energy Agency proposed last autumn that Iran takes its uranium of 3.5 percent purity to other countries, where it can be processed into high-enrichment uranium of 20 percent. The processed high-enrichment uranium will be then used as fuel for nuclear reactors and for medical purpose.

Iran rejected the deal, urging for a simultaneous swap of the fuel on its soil.

Considering the fact that Brazil holds an important position in the UN Security Council, it can play its role in UN Security Council in making logical and just decisions about important international issues, said Mottaki.