TEHRAN: Iran may withdraw a counter-offer it made to the International Atomic Energy Agency in response to proposals from the major powers for the supply of nuclear fuel, its IAEA envoy warned today.

“Iran’s proposal for a simultaneous exchange on Iranian soil of our low enriched uranium for fuel enriched to 20 percent is still on the table but it will not stay there forever,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, quoted by Mehr news agency.

His words echoed similar warnings of a time-limit from the major powers.

“Any development which might disturb the climate of cooperation” would prompt Iran to withdraw the offer, he added, alluding to the threat of new sanctions being levelled by Western governments with Russian support.

Last October, the IAEA drew up a plan for Iran to ship out most of its stockpiles of low enriched uranium in return for the supply by France and Russia of uranium enriched to the 20 percent level required for a Tehran medical research reactor.