Iran suspends uranium enrichment

[Penta]

Sun 14 November, 2004 19:03

Iran and EU reach agreement in nuclear talks

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran says it has submitted a letter to the United Nations' atomic watchdog announcing it will suspend uranium enrichment activities as part of a deal with the EU to avoid possible U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Hassan Rohani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said on Sunday the suspension would remain in place as long as talks with the EU continued on a final resolution of Iran's nuclear case.

An EU diplomat close to the talks said Iran had agreed to all points covered in an agreement hammered out by the two sides in Paris last weekend. "We have reached a full agreement regarding all the issues mentioned in the package," he said.

Iran's announcement of a suspension of enrichment -- a process that can be used to make fuel for atomic reactors or nuclear warheads -- comes just in time to be included in a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), due to be released on Monday.

It should also be enough for Iran to avoid U.S. efforts to have the case sent to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

Iran denies U.S. accusations that its nuclear energy programme is a front for an atomic weapons bid.

"One hour ago we submitted a letter to the IAEA," Rohani told reporters after a meeting in Tehran with the ambassadors of Britain, Germany and France, who have been leading the negotiations on behalf of the EU. Diplomats in Vienna confirmed the IAEA had received the letter.

Rohani said the suspension would be "during the period of talks" with the EU.

Once the suspension is in place the "EU Three" have said they will sit down with Iran to discuss a package of incentives -- ranging from cooperation on peaceful nuclear technology to a possible trade deal -- in return for Iran permanently giving up any activities that could be used to make bomb-grade material.

Rohani's deputy Hossein Mousavian told reporters those talks would start on December 15.

[Lochaber]

Time will tell if they do a DRNK on this one.

[Penta]

Indeed. But for the time being, negotiation seems to be bearing fruit.

[ROB]

Excellent news. Of course their tack record of truth telling on the matter isn't exactly flawless, but let's hope it's a genuine change of heart.

Let's also hope they are amply rewarded for any cooperation as an incentive for DPRK to do the same.

[Buzzsaw]

The old give us money and technology and we'll pretend to comply trick.

[ROB]

Yeah - cos that's working out so dandily for the DPRK