Iran may still consider fuel exchange

Iran says it remains open to talking about a nuclear fuel exchange agreement. The foreign ministry says the country will accept such a deal if Western countries are able to establish trust.

Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesman of Iranian Foreign Ministry, said, "If they can provide a situation in which we can trust them, we are always ready to exchange fuel and it is not in contradiction with the issue that we, ourselves, do not move on to produce 20-percent enriched fuel."

He also says Tehran will not be deterred by recent signals the US and its allies may seek new UN sanctions against Iran. The two sides are deadlocked over a UN proposal for Iran to send much of its enriched uranium abroad. The country announced in November it would build 10 new facilities, which has drawn condemnation from US and Europe. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.