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Iran would stop enriching uranium to a high grade if it was assured of the supplies it needed for a research reactor, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on the eve of the inauguration of the country's first nuclear power plant.

His remarks came as the US reportedly told Israel it believes Iran is still a year away from being able to build a nuclear weapon – probably lessening the chances of a pre-emptive military strike that could ignite war across the Middle East.

Ahmadinejad's comments to a Japanese newspaper appeared designed to deflect international pressure over Iran's nuclear programme. "We promise to stop enriching uranium to 20% purity if we are ensured fuel supply," he was quoted as saying by the Yomiuri Shimbun.