Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Iran has formed an agreement with Brazil and Turkey and to send its uranium abroad and receive enriched uranium in return. This agreement opens up a possibility of dialogue with the international community even as it prepares to step up sanctions against Tehran.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast said this morning that his government has accepted the proposal to send to Turkey 1200 kg of uranium enriched to 3.5% in exchange for a total of 120 kg of the same element enriched to 20 %. The IAEA (UN Atomic Energy Agency) will receive a letter explaining the agreement by week’s end. The transfer of enriched uranium will start within one month of receiving IAEA approval.

Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, president of Brazil, on visit to Tehran, has pushed hard for this agreement, along with Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The United States and Russia had expressed doubts about the chances of success of the talks. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last month that the Brazilian was trying a "last chance" for Iran to avoid sanctions. Israel immediately responded to this by accusing Iran of "manipulating" Turkey and Brazil.

Last year Western powers offered Tehran the possibility of transferring its uranium to Russia and France, where it would be enriched and returned to Iran to be used to produce energy. The proposal was a way to allow the Islamic state the benefit of nuclear energy while avoiding its possible use for nuclear weapons. But Tehran rejected the agreement.