Iran is considering staggering the transfer of its low enriched uranium stocks to Russia for further refinement as part of a possible deal with global powers.
"Iran as a uranium buyer knows best how much uranium, enriched to a level of 19.75 per cent, it needs," Iran's state-run Press TV quoted a diplomat close to the Iranian nuclear negotiating team in Vienna.
The diplomat added that sending the entire enriched uranium stockpile abroad in one go was not in Iran's national interests.
"Last week after talks in Vienna among Iran, United States, Russia, France and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA chief had presented all parties with a draft agreement.
Under the proposal, Iran was required to send 1.2 tonnes of its 1.5 tonnes Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) stockpile to Russia by the year-end. Russia would then carry out enrichment to a 20 per cent level.Earlier, Iran's Arabic language Al Alam TV reported that Tehran would "accept the broad framework of the deal, but wants very important changes in it".
Iran is expected to officially declare its final stand by Friday.