Iran MP calls for gradual delivery of uranium abroad

Iranian Member of Parliament Alaeddin Boroujerdi speaks during a debate about Iran's nuclear program in Tehran October 31, 2004.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A leading Iranian MP said on Monday the Islamic state should send its low enriched uranium abroad in several phases for further processing, Iran's Arabic language al Alam television reported

"Because the West has repeatedly violated agreements in the past, Iran should send its low enriched uranium abroad gradually and in several phases and necessary guarantees should be taken," said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of parliament's Foreign Affairs and National Security committee, al Alam reported.

Iran said Friday it would give an answer this week to the U.N.-drafted deal for it to cut an atomic stockpile which the West fears could be used for weapons, ignoring an Oct 23 deadline and challenging the basis of the pact.

Iranian lawmakers have suggested Tehran preferred to acquire enriched uranium abroad rather than send out its own for processing into fuel for nuclear medicine, as Western powers said it tentatively agreed to do at Geneva talks on October 1.

Boroujerdi, echoing other hardline lawmakers, said Iran should buy fuel for its Tehran reactor rather than sending its enriched uranium abroad for processing.

"It is better if Iran purchases 20 percent enriched fuel from Russia or any other supplier," Boroujerdi said, the Official IRNA news agency reported.

He also warned the West that Iran would produce nuclear fuel by itself for the reactor, if the other party failed to return the country's further processed enriched uranium.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Tehran newsroom)