Iran is still ready to exchange its lowly-enriched uranium for highly-enriched uranium but only on its territory, the France Press news agency said, quoting Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi.
The U.S. and other Western powers suspect Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at the development of nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions and imposed sanctions against Iran over its refusal to abandon its program, which Tehran says is of an entirely peaceful nature.
Washington stepped up calls for fresh harsher sanctions against the Islamic Republic after Tehran began enriching uranium to 20% earlier this year.
Russia, a veto-wielding Security Council member, had earlier opposed sanctions but said after Iran's move that it might support the initiative.
