The plan drawn up by the UN to regulate Iran’s uranium development seems to be hitting obstacles: according to the Observer, a senior UN official has rejected a proposal to send uranium abroad for enrichment. Apparently President Medvedev told Germany’s Der Spiegel that Russia had not ruled out sanctions (again), but as the New York Times points out the statement seems to have more valence as Iran backs away from the idea of a deal. Turkey should put itself forward as a possible alternative shipment state if Iran doesn’t agree to Russia, says Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. President Medvedev has blamed political infighting for Ukraine’s gas payments issues. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has claimed that Naftogaz Ukrainy has paid its October gas bill, but the situation was rendered ‘extremely difficult’ due to alleged resistance from the President and Central Bank. Could a deal between Slovenia and Russia on South Stream be imminent? Iraq expects three of its oilfields will pump more than 6 million barrels a day in total once foreign companies have established themselves in the fields, rights to which they have won this year.