Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi has expressed Tehran's readiness to swap 1,200 kilogrammes (2,640 pounds) of low-enriched uranium (LEU) in one-shot for enriched atomic fuel.It was the first Iranian mention of the quantity of LEU Tehran is ready to exchange in one go for the 20 percent enriched uranium it wants to fuel a civilian research reactor in Tehran.
Here are key twists and turns in Iran's position since the fuel deal was first discussed on October 19, after talks between the United States, Russia, France and Iran.
2009:
October 21: Iran's envoy to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) calls the UN-brokered proposal that is backed by most world powers, "very positive."
October 24: Parliament speaker Ali Larijani calls the deal an attempt to "cheat" Iran.
October 26: Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says Iran "may deliver a part of our (LEU) fuel that we don't need."
October 29: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says a deal is possible because Western policy has gone from "confrontation to cooperation."
November 2: Iran calls for a review of the deal.
November 18: Mottaki says Iran will not send LEU abroad but is ready to "consider swapping the fuel simultaneously in Iran."
November 29: IAEA censures Tehran for secretly building second uranium enrichment plant.
November 30: Ahmadinejad declares Iran will enrich uranium to 20 percent purity, and build 10 new enrichment plants.
December 12: Mottaki proposes Tehran swap 400 kilogrammes (882 pounds) of LEU for nuclear fuel.
December 18: Ahmadinejad says a deal is possible if West respects Iran and stops making threats.
December 22: Ahmadinejad rejects a year-end US deadline to accept the UN-brokered deal.
December 29: Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Iran is ready for a gradual swap.
2010:
January 2: Mottaki gives the West a one-month "ultimatum" to accept the gradual swap offer.
February 2: Ahmadinejad says he sees "no problem" in delivering Iran's LEU to Western powers.
February 7: Ahmadinejad orders his atomic chief to begin enriching LEU to 20 percent purity, saying "the road to engagement is open."
February 9: Defiant Iran begins work on enriching uranium to 20 percent purity level.
February 11: Ahmadinejad declares Iran has produced the first batch of 20 percent enriched uranium.
February 16: He says Iran is ready for "simultaneous" exchange of nuclear fuel even with the United States, but warns world powers against imposing sanctions on the Islamic republic.
February 18: UN nuclear watchdog says Iran has begun enriching uranium to 20 percent at its Natanz plant.
March 17: Salehi says in published comments that Tehran is ready to swap 1,200 kilogrammes of LEU in one-shot for enriched atomic fuel.
