Iran is signaling interest in reviving a proposal to send enriched uranium abroad in return for nuclear fuel to power a reactor for medical use. Iran had appeared to reject the proposal late last year. But on Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran has “no problem” with the plan. His comments came as Iranian officials criticized new US plans to expand its land- and sea-based missile system in the Persian Gulf, calling the move an excuse to widen US dominance of the Middle East. Ahmadinejad also addressed the plight of three American hikers jailed after mistakenly crossing over from Iraq, saying they could be swapped for Iranian prisoners held by the United States.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “We do not like to have anyone in jail. Some discussions are going on to swap the three with jailed Iranians in America. They entered illegally across our borders, and their crime is clear. But those Iranians who are in America’s jail have no clear crime.”