World powers will meet to discuss Iran’s nuclear program after the Islamic Republic said it would not export its uranium for further enrichment.
Representatives from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany, will meet Friday in Brussels, according to reports.
On Wednesday, Iran announced that it would not export its enriched uranium for further processing. The announcement appears to indicate that Iran has rejected a plan put forth by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to send its nuclear material to a third country, either France or Russia, for further enrichment to levels useful in medical research but short of levels appropriate for nuclear weapons.
Russia said Thursday that Iran had not given a final answer on the proposal, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, IAEA inspectors on Thursday visited a newly disclosed uranium enrichment site for the second time in two months.
Iran disclosed the underground site, located near the holy city of Qom, in September, some seven years after the start of construction.
An IAEA report released Monday said Iran could have other undisclosed nuclear facilities.
