Iran says it wants the fuel for a research reactor in Tehran; Western countries suspect it is trying to acquire an atom bomb.

Here are key twists and turns in Iran's position since the deal was first discussed on October 19, after talks between the United States, Russia, France and Iran.

October 21: Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh, calls the UN-brokered proposal that is backed by most world powers, "very positive."

October 24: Parliament speaker Ali Larijani calls the deal an attempt to "cheat" Iran.

October 26: Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says Iran "may deliver a part of our (low-enriched uranium, or LEU) fuel that we don't need."

October 29: Ahmadinejad says a deal is possible because Western policy has gone from "confrontation to cooperation."

November 2: Iran calls for a review of the deal.

November 18: Mottaki says Iran will not send its LEU abroad, and says Tehran was ready to "consider swapping the fuel simultaneously in Iran."

November 24: Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Tehran is ready to send LEU abroad, provided there is simultaneous exchange on its own soil of uranium enriched abroad.

November 29: IAEA censures Tehran for secretly building second uranium enrichment plant.

November 30: Ahmadinejad declares Iran will enrich uranium to 20 percent purity, and build 10 new enrichment plants.

December 2: Ahmadinejad reiterates Iran will enrich its own uranium.

December 8: Mehmanparast says Iran "ready" for a deal if Western powers "can provide conditions that can gain our trust."

December 12: Mottaki proposes Tehran swap 400 kilograms (882 pounds) of LEU for nuclear fuel.

December 14: He backs down after the United States bluntly dismisses the offer.

December 18: Ahmadinejad says a deal is possible if the United States and the West respect Iran and stop making threats.

December 19: Mottaki says Iran is ready to examine proposals from other parties for uranium procurement.

December 21: Mottaki says Iran will produce its own nuclear fuel.

December 22: Ahmadinejad rejects a year-end US deadline to accept the UN-brokered deal.

December 29: Mehmanparast says Iran is ready for a gradual swap.

January 2: Mottaki gives the West a one-month "ultimatum" to accept that offer.

January 20: Mehmanparast reiterates Iran's gradual swap offer.

January 24: Ahmadinejad says Iran will proclaim "good news" about its enrichment capabilities during 10-day celebrations (February 1-11) marking the 1979 Islamic revolution.

January 26: Khamenei says Iran will not succumb to international "blackmail."

January 30: Mottaki says "new ideas" on nuclear fuel procurement were discussed with French and Brazilian officials in Davos, adding Tehran's own ideas on the exchange remain on the table.

February 2: Ahmadinejad says he sees "no problem" in delivering Iran's LEU to Western powers.

February 7: Ahmadinejad orders his atomic chief to begin enriching LEU to 20 percent purity. He says "the road to engagement is open."

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