White House says latest nuclear deal could be positive step but serious doubts remain on Iran

White House notes Iran nuclear deal skeptically

WASHINGTON — The White House says that Iran’s latest agreement to ship enriched uranium off its soil would be a “positive step” but that the United States and the world still have serious doubts about the country’s willingness to live up to its commitments.

Iran agreed Monday to ship most of its enriched uranium to Turkey in a nuclear fuel swap deal. In return, Iran would get fuel rods of medium-enriched uranium to use in a Tehran medical research reactor.

The U.S. fears Iran is enriching uranium to produce a nuclear weapon.

In a statement, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs raised concerns about the deal Iran struck with Turkey and Brazil.

He repeated that Iran must live up to its international obligations or face consequences, including sanctions.