Iran may agree to nuke deal
2006-03-06 19:49
Vienna - Iran may agree to extend its
proposed moratorium of industrial-scale production of nuclear
fuel if it is permitted to run a small-scale enrichment research
programme, a diplomat close to the Iran-EU talks said on Monday.
"Iran is ready to compromise on the period of suspension, if
it can keep its nuclear research activities," a diplomat close
to the talks told Reuters.
On Friday, Iran said it could delay
industrial-scale enrichment for up to two years, but the EU
wants a 10-year moratorium on all enrichment activities.
France, Britain, Germany and the United States have so far
rejected the idea of Iran running a small enrichment research
programme.
However, Russia and UN nuclear watchdog chief
Mohamed ElBaradei are pushing the West to allow Iran to continue
with small-scale work.
Of the three leading European powers, Germany is the one
that "could most live with a pilot enrichment plant in Iran", a
European diplomat close to the talks with Iran told Reuters.
However, he played down the possibility of Iran splitting
European ranks, saying that Germany would never break with the
positions of the French and British, who oppose allowing Iran a
small-scale enrichment programme.
"The point is finding a solution that enjoys consensus," the
diplomat said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency chief said on Monday
he hoped a deal to defuse a standoff over Iran's nuclear
ambitions could be reached soon, as the IAEA board met in a
possible prelude to UN security council action.