1.   A central issue is diluting the uranium.

2.   But the deal snagged over disputes about the terms of the sale after uranium prices plunged, and Russia stopped diluting the uranium last year.

3.   The United States was to have diluted the uranium, sold it to civilian power plants and given the Russians ordinary uranium in exchange.

4.   The uranium could be diluted so it is unsuitable for bombs and then used in reactors, Eskew said.