France's Kouchner pessimistic on Iran uranium deal

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Iran appears set on rejecting a U.N.-drafted deal with world powers designed to deny it the means to produce nuclear weapons-grade uranium, French Foreign Bernard Kouchner said in comments published on Sunday.

Under last month's proposal, Iran would export some 75 percent of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad to be turned into fuel for a Tehran research reactor. Diplomats said Iran's counter-offer would leave it enough LEU to convert into bomb material, a non-starter for France and the United States.

Asked in an Israeli newspaper interview whether a final Iranian decision was pending, Kouchner said: "You could phrase it that way, but in effect the answer has almost been given already, and it is negative. That's a shame, a shame, a shame."

"We demanded to take a large quantity of (LEU) because we do not want them, while we are enriching uranium on their behalf, to continue themselves enriching uranium which could one day be used for military purposes," he told Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

Kouchner said none of the negotiation conferences between Iran and a group of six world powers had been especially successful. "We are waiting. This is not good, and very dangerous."

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, but the secrecy around it projects and its vituperation of Israel have stirred war fears.

Israel, assumed to have the region's only atomic arsenal, has hinted at possible preemptive strikes against its arch-foe.

"I don't want to comment on a possible Israeli attack. I don't want it to happen," said Kouchner, who visits Israel later this week. "That is a big danger and therefore talks and peacemaking must be embarked on speedily."

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)