Turkey has hinted that it is closed to a deal with Iran on its nuclear fuel which could help Tehran avert new United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme. The Turkish Foreign Ministry says a formal announcement might be made on Monday. Iranian officials have been negotiated in Tehran with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Turkish leader had earlier said the exchange of nuclear fuel could take place in Turkey as a way of resolving the stand-off.