Iran says it has delayed until next week a decision on whether to accept a UN-brokered deal aimed at breaking the deadlock surrounding its controversial nuclear programme.

Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency it is still considering a proposal to ship uranium to Russia for further enriching but says it needs more to react. Negotiators reached a draft agreement on Wednesday. Under the deal, Iran would send low-grade uranium abroad to have it turned in enriched uranium, which Iran can then use for civilian purposes, such as the production of medical isotopes. The plan has been welcomed by the United States, Russia and France.
 

Photo: Iran's nuclear facility at Natanz (Flickr/hamed)