US, Russia and France stall talks on Iran swap proposal

THE US, Russia and France have replied to a proposal by Iran to swap some of its enriched uranium for reactor fuel, dismissing the idea hours before an expected UN Security Council vote yesterday on new sanctions against Iran, diplomats said.

Three diplomats familiar with the replies say they contain a series of questions that in effect stall any negotiations on the issue.

The US, Russia and France have said the swap proposal negotiated by Brazil and Turkey would leave Iran with enough material to make a nuclear weapon. And they note that Iran intends to continue a new programme of enriching uranium.