Ahmadinejad hints at Iran nuclear compromise

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Iran would stop higher-grade enrichment if it is assured of nuclear fuel supplies for a research reactor, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in a Japanese newspaper yesterday.

Published on the eve of the inauguration of Iran's first nuclear power plant, Mr Ahmadinejad's comments appeared to signal a willingness to compromise on a key concern for the West.

Major powers suspect Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons, a fear heightened by its move in February to start enriching uranium to a level of 20 percent, compared to about 3.5 percent previously, taking it closer to weapons-grade levels.

Iran says its work is for peaceful purposes and it had to enrich to higher levels after UN-backed talks for a fuel-swap deal with the US, Russia and France stalled last year.