An Iranian diplomat says his country wants to buy fuel for its Tehran research reactor, the latest indication that Iran is not willing to ship most of its enriched uranium out of the country.
Ali Asghar Soltanieh says Iran wants to purchase the fuel and is ready for new talks to work out details.
Asked if that means Iran is not willing to export most of its enriched uranium stockpile for it to be turned into the fuel, he again said his country wants to buy ready-made fuel.
This came as IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Monday that Iran must respond to IAEA queries about its nuclear program, and be "forthcoming" in its response to an IAEA fuel proposal.
Soltanieh's comments Monday were a strong indication that Iran will not accept the international offer that would have stripped Iran of most of its enriched stockpile.
If Iran exports most of its enriched uranium, its ability to make the core of a nuclear warhead would be delayed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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