Iran offers nuke compromise as key talks loom
Source: Agencies |
April 10, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IRAN'S nuclear chief signaled Tehran's envoys may bring a compromise offer to the talks this week with world powers: Promising to eventually stop producing its most highly enriched uranium, while not totally abandoning its ability to make nuclear fuel.
The proposal outlined late on Sunday seeks to directly address one of the potential main issues in the talks scheduled to begin on Friday between Iran and the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany.
The United States and others have raised concerns about Iran's production and stockpile of uranium enriched to 20 percent, which could be turned into weapons-grade strength in a matter of months.
But the proposal described by Iran's nuclear chief Fereidoun Abbasi said Tehran could stop its production of 20 percent enriched uranium needed for a research reactor, and continue enriching uranium to lower levels for power generation.
This could take place once Iran has stockpiled enough of the 20 percent enriched uranium, Abbasi told state TV. The 20 percent enriched material can be used for medical research and treatments.
The enrichment issue lies at the core of the dispute between Iran and the West, which fears Tehran is seeking an atomic weapon - a charge the country denies, insisting its uranium program is for peaceful purposes only.
Uranium has to be enriched to more than 90 percent to be used for a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted on the Iranian parliament's website yesterday as saying he hopes for some progress in the upcoming talks but warned Iran would not accept any preconditions.
"We will honestly try to have the two sides conclude with a win-win situation in which Iran achieves its rights while removing concerns of five-plus-one group," he said.
"But imposing any conditions before the talks would be meaningless."
The proposal outlined late on Sunday seeks to directly address one of the potential main issues in the talks scheduled to begin on Friday between Iran and the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany.
The United States and others have raised concerns about Iran's production and stockpile of uranium enriched to 20 percent, which could be turned into weapons-grade strength in a matter of months.
But the proposal described by Iran's nuclear chief Fereidoun Abbasi said Tehran could stop its production of 20 percent enriched uranium needed for a research reactor, and continue enriching uranium to lower levels for power generation.
This could take place once Iran has stockpiled enough of the 20 percent enriched uranium, Abbasi told state TV. The 20 percent enriched material can be used for medical research and treatments.
The enrichment issue lies at the core of the dispute between Iran and the West, which fears Tehran is seeking an atomic weapon - a charge the country denies, insisting its uranium program is for peaceful purposes only.
Uranium has to be enriched to more than 90 percent to be used for a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted on the Iranian parliament's website yesterday as saying he hopes for some progress in the upcoming talks but warned Iran would not accept any preconditions.
"We will honestly try to have the two sides conclude with a win-win situation in which Iran achieves its rights while removing concerns of five-plus-one group," he said.
"But imposing any conditions before the talks would be meaningless."
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