Iran, West reportedly close to deal on nuclear program
Reduced uranium enrichment traded for eased sanctions
ISTANBUL, Turkey — Iran may be allowed to continue with its nuclear program if it agrees to stop enriching uranium to a level from which it could quickly create a weapon.
Western powers are ready to drop demands for a complete halt to all Iran’s nuclear work, provided its government pledges to halt uranium enrichment at the 20- per- cent level, the Daily Telegraph has learned.
The proposal would be a key element of a compromise deal, to be discussed by world powers in Baghdad today, that would also see Iran open its secret military facilities to United Nations inspectors.
In return, trade sanctions against Tehran would be eased, with some suspended should Iran prove that its nuclear intentions are peaceful.
On Tuesday night, a deal to resolve the impasse was said to be close. Yukia Amano, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he expected an agreement to be signed “quite soon” that would allow inspectors greater access to the key scientists, documents and nuclear facilities.
Tehran’s nuclear ambitions have been subject to widespread suspicions that it is laying the groundwork to build nuclear weapons. Israel has
It is of crucial importance that our cooperation will entail reciprocal steps, that is, our nation’s trust should be built in the trend of talks and cooperation.
SAEED JALILI
IRANIAN REPRESENTATIVE
threatened a pre- emptive military strike in response.
Representatives of the United States, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany met Tuesday and are to later meet an Iranian representative, Saeed Jalili, in Baghdad. Diplomats expect the talks to yield an Iranian offer to suspend part of its nuclear program in return for talks on dismantling the UN sanctions regime that includes the prospect of a U. S. and European-driven oil embargo. This could include an offer to limit uranium enrichment to 3.5 per cent.
The hopes of a breakthrough follow two days of preliminary talks between Amano and Jalili in the Iranian capital. Speaking as he returned Monday, Amano said: “The decision was made to conclude and sign the agreement. At this stage, I can say it will be signed quite soon.”
The Iranian regime quickly made clear that any concessions must be immediately reciprocated — probably with an agreement to “turn down the volume” on sanctions.
“It is of crucial importance that our cooperation will entail reciprocal steps, that is, our nation’s trust should be built in the trend of talks and cooperation,” Jalili said.
The West’s main concern is Iran’s production of uranium enriched to 20 per cent, which is far higher than needed for regular energy- producing reactors, which require up to five per cent, depending on the design. The U. S. and its allies fear the higher- enriched uranium could be quickly boosted to war head grade material. Crude nuclear weapons can use 20 per cent uranium, but 80 per cent is used in sophisticated devices.
One Western official said: “The meaningful issue must be the 20 per cent enriched material, then some sort of pause on sanctions is not a difficult thing.”
Amano is focused on getting Iran to let UN experts into high- profile Iranian sites, including the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran.
Iranian officials maintain the country has a legal right to nuclear technology. One diplomat close to the talks said that the ultimate success of the diplomacy would hinge on conceding this point to Iran so it can portray the negotiations as a victory at home.