Kazakhstan denies uranium deal with Iran

Kazakhstan has denied US reports of possible uranium supplies to Iran.

"Kazakhstan unconditionally observes all requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), so any [uranium] sale surpassing the IAEA control is out of the question," a spokesperson for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

The authorities in Tehran have also refuted the reports. According to Iran's official media, the Iranian UN office said in a statement that this information was “not true”.

The statement came after the Associated Press cited intelligence sources as saying that the countries are about to sign a deal to export 1,300 tons of uranium ore from Kazakhstan.

According to the agency, Iran is willing to pay US$450 million for the consignment. It also said that Kazakh government officials acting on their own were behind the deal.

The UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency have launched talks with the Kazakh government in order to clarify the situation.