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"We're prepared to listen": U.S. reacts cautiously to Ahmadinejad uranium offer

Laura Rozen  |  February 02, 2010

In what was being reported as a potentially signficant shift, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Iranian State Television today that Iran is ready to send its uranium abroad.

"We have no problem sending our enriched uranium abroad," Ahmadinejad told state television, according to Reuters.

"We say: we will give you our 3.5 percent enriched uranium and will get the fuel. It may take 4 to 5 months until we get the fuel," he said. "If we send our enriched uranium abroad and then they do not give us the 20 percent enriched fuel for our reactor, we are capable of producing it inside Iran."

The U.S. reacted cautiously to the interview, indicating it was willing to listen if Iran has genuinely changed its position on the fuel swap deal, while it was continuing preparations with key allies on sanctions for further pressuring Iran. Iran has previously publicly said it was willing to send its low enriched uranium abroad, but it had balked at sending it out all in one batch, as a proposal worked out by the UN atomic energy agency last fall had stipulated. Western officials said it remained to be seen if Iran had changed its position on that.

"If Iran has something new to say, we are prepared to listen," a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.

"We made a good faith and balanced offer regarding the Tehran research reactor," National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said. "We believe it makes sense for all parties. If Mr. Ahmadinejad’s comments reflect an updated Iranian position, we look forward to Iran informing the IAEA."

A western diplomatic source said Ahmadinejad's comments reflect that Iran is nervous about the threat of further sanctions and pressure.

Ahmadinejad also reportedly told Iranian State TV that Iran would consider exchanging U.S. citizens being detained in Iran for Iranians being held abroad. "We are having talks to have an exchange if it is possible,” Ahmadinejad was cited. "We are hopeful that all prisoners will be released.”

The NSC's Hammer stressed that the reports of what Ahmadinejad said are fragmentary, and the U.S. has not entered into any discussion with Iran about an exchange.

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