Iran to use other countries for enrichment

GENEVA, Switzerland, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Iran agreed to transfer the bulk of its known nuclear fuel to Russia and France for enrichment, Western officials said.

The announcement came during negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, between Iran and six other countries over Iran's nuclear plans.

In Tehran's first face-to-face talks with the Obama administration and allies over its nuclear program, Iranian officials also agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to visit a recently revealed uranium enrichment facility near Qom. The parties -- Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- also agreed to more talks later this month.

President Barack Obama called the movement a good first step that "must be followed by constructive action" by Iran.

"We've made it clear that we will do our part to engage the Iranian government on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect," Obama said in a statement Wednesday, "but our patience is not unlimited."

IAEA General-Director Mohammed ElBaradei was expected in Tehran Saturday to discuss access to the facility, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. U.S. officials said they expected IAEA inspectors to visit the site "within two weeks."

IAEA technical experts were to meet with Iranian experts in mid-October to work out the details of the deal to process uranium in Russia and France for Tehran's aging medical-research reactor, the Journal said.

Western officials said they welcomed the idea because they have sought ways to convince Iran to renounce its ability to produce its own nuclear fuel in exchange for such assistance.

Critics warn the apparent concessions offered by Iran could be a ploy to gain more time to evade sanctions or other consequences while avoiding any pledge to scale back its nuclear ambitions.