Iran tells US, Russia nuclear fuel deal is last 'opportunity'

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged the United States and Russia on Wednesday to back a nuclear fuel deal, warning it would be the last "opportunity" to resolve the atomic standoff.

"The Tehran declaration [on a fuel swap] is the best opportunity. We took an important step and said something very important. There are no excuses left," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech, addressing U.S. and Russian leaders.

U.S. President Barack Obama "should bear in mind that if he does not use this opportunity, Iranians are unlikely to give him a new chance," he said, as world powers mulled new sanctions against Iran despite the fuel deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey earlier this month.

Ahmadinejad also said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s behavior was “inexplicable,” referring to support from Russia for the U.S.-sponsored sanctions.

Western governments have been dismissive of the agreement, arguing that the international community needs to keep up the pressure on Tehran to heed U.N. Security Council demands over its nuclear program.


/Hurriyet Daily News/