State media reported that Iran is seeking major changes to a UN nuclear fuel deal that it has broadly accepted, which could potentially disrupt the plan and leave Iran vulnerable to stricter sanctions. The European Union's foreign policy chief and France's foreign minister stated that there is no need to alter the UN draft, and warned that Iran could face tougher international sanctions if it attempts to undo the agreement. One of the main points of contention for Iran in the plan, which is aimed at reducing the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons, is the requirement for Iran to send the majority of its low-enriched uranium abroad for processing all at once. Iran claims that it is only enriching uranium for power plant fuel, not for weapons, but its past nuclear secrecy and lack of transparency with UN inspections have led to suspicions in the West that Iran may be covertly pursuing nuclear weapons capability. According to an unnamed official cited by the Iranian state Arabic-language satellite television station al Alam on Tuesday, Iran will provide its response to the proposed agreement within 48 hours, a week after the deadline set by UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei. Al Alam reported that Iran will accept the general framework of the draft proposal but will request some important amendments. The specific changes that Tehran will seek in the draft agreement negotiated by ElBaradei with Iran, Russia, France, and the United States in Vienna last week were not revealed. However, senior lawmakers have suggested that Iran should import foreign fuel rather than sending abroad much of its own low-enriched uranium stock by the end of the year, as specified in the proposal. Iran's foreign minister stated on Monday that the country may consider doing both, indicating that Tehran could ship out less low-enriched uranium than what the major powers are requesting in order to delay the possibility of Iran weaponizing enrichment for at least a year. The preliminary agreement requires Iran to send most of its known 1.5 tonnes of LEU to Russia for enrichment, then to France for conversion into fuel plates, which will be returned to Tehran for use in a research reactor producing radio-isotopes for cancer treatment. The understanding on the fuel plan and U.N. monitoring of a newly-discovered enrichment site was reached during talks in Geneva on October 1 between Iran and six world powers. A team of U.N. inspectors arrived in Iran to inspect the new site after it was disclosed last month. Iran revealed the plant to the IAEA after discovering that Western spy services had detected it. Iran was granted a temporary relief from sanctions on its oil sector after making promises in Geneva, but Western powers emphasized that they would not wait indefinitely for Iran to fulfill its commitments. The agreements made in Geneva are seen as tests of Iran's intentions to use uranium for peaceful purposes only, and as a foundation for more extensive negotiations on limiting Tehran's enrichment activities to address the nuclear standoff. Although there was a tentative agreement to reconvene in late October, delays in fuel proposals and ongoing inspections have made it unlikely for talks to resume this week. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner expressed concern over the ambiguous statements made by Iran, stating that time is running out for them. This region, referring to the Middle East, is highly volatile and prone to conflict. The situation is dangerous, especially with regards to Iran's actions. If deemed necessary, new sanctions may be considered by the end of the year, according to Kouchner. EU ministers have already requested the EU executive to explore potential additional sanctions. ElBaradei stated that Iran must send most of its low-enriched uranium overseas in order to build trust. He emphasized the importance of reducing tension and establishing a sense of confidence. By removing this material, there would be a year for peaceful negotiations. This would give Iran the opportunity to prove that their uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki stated that Iran will reveal its decision regarding the pact in the coming days. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who leads the parliament's Foreign Affairs and National Security committee, suggested that any exported Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) should only be done in small, gradual amounts. However, this proposal is not acceptable to Western and UN officials as it would not result in a reduction of Iran's LEU stockpile.