Turkey says to press fuel swap plan with Iran

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey and Brazil would continue to press for a deal with Iran to swap part of its nuclear material, despite new U.N. sanctions against Tehran.

Western powers voiced deep misgivings about a plan brokered by Brazil and Turkey for Iran to send abroad 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) of its low-enriched uranium in return for reactor fuel, and supported a fourth round of sanctions this month.

Turkey and Brazil, non-permanent members of the Security Council, voted against the resolution.

"We still believe a solution can be found. We are determined to continue our efforts," Davutoglu told reporters on the sidelines of a summit of southeast European leaders.

"Brazil will continue to be with us."

Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said on Monday he still hoped an earlier outline agreement could serve as the basis for further talks with Tehran.

Davutoglu said he spoke with Amorin and with Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Saturday and that he planned to talk to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Tuesday.

Germany is one of six world powers seeking to revive negotiations with Iran over its disputed nuclear program. The others are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

"We took a joint decision to carry out this process together," Davutoglu said. "We have discussed with Tehran a response with positive elements (to the International Atomic Energy Agency)."

(Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Jon Boyle)