Geneva/Brussels - Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief, said Tuesday he expected Iran to reply this week to an international plan aimed at reducing Tehran's uranium stockpiles and easing the path towards further negotiations.

Regarding the next round of talks between the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany with Iran, Solana implied that the end-of-the-month deadline announced at the previous negotiation session in Geneva was flexible.

"The end of the month can be the first days of November, it's not solely the last days of the month," said Solana, who led the six- parties in their talks with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran's Arabic language channel Al Alam said Iran will announce its decision within the next 48 hours on the UN-drafted deal, which sees Tehran sending low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for further processing so it can be put to medical use.

The deal would decrease Iran's stockpiles and ease some concerns in the West, but Al-Alam reported that Tehran would seek significant changes.

"It is difficult to know what 'important changes' mean," said Solana, noting that the agreement was signed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United States, Russia and France and was awaiting only Iran's go-ahead.

"Everybody ratified with the exception of Iran. They said 48 hours would be enough so let's see what the answer is," Solana said.

Western countries have expressed concern that Iran may try to create a nuclear weapon, though Tehran said it intends to use its technology only for peaceful purposes. (dpa)