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EU3 Mull Compromise in Iran Nuke Talks -Diplomats
30 Mar 2005 15:42:44 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Louis Charbonneau
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30594401.htm
VIENNA (IAEA Hdqtrs. city), March 30 (Reuters) - France, Britain and Germany are considering letting Iran keep nuclear technology that could be used to make bombs, an apparent move towards a compromise with Tehran, diplomats said on Wednesday.
However, they said such a step would lead to a clash with Washington (good guess), which has backed European Union talks with Iran on condition Tehran permanently renounce all activities that could produce nuclear fuel.
Sharing U.S. suspicions that Tehran may be planning to develop nuclear arms, the EU trio has offered Iran political and economic incentives to scrap its uranium enrichment program, which can produce reactor fuel but also give Tehran the capability to make bomb-grade material.
The EU had previously said nothing short of dismantling the project would convince it that Iran does not want nuclear weapons, but diplomats said it was now considering letting Iran keep a limited enrichment program.
"The Iranians have been offering this for a long time. What's new is that the EU is thinking about it," (E3 appeasement efforts are threatening to give way to complete collapse) a diplomat with access to the negotiations said.
Iran has repeatedly said it will never give up its uranium enrichment program, part of sensitive nuclear work it has frozen while talks with the EU continue. It says its nuclear program is aimed solely at producing electricity.
At talks in Paris last week, both sides deferred discussion of Iran's suggestion that it be allowed to keep 500 centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium, diplomats said.
This would be too small for arms-related enrichment and would be closely watched by the International Atomic Energy Agency, experts say.
"The EU has not said 'yes', but has not said 'no'," the diplomat said (waffling appeasement efforts crumbling).
The uranium would be enriched so that it contained no more than 3.5 percent of the uranium-235 atom. Bomb-grade uranium needs to be about 90 percent U-235.
Other diplomats confirmed the EU was considering Iran's proposal, but emphasized this did not mean they would accept it. (and who the hell are "other diplomats?")
"The ideas they (Iran) came up with were not really acceptable, but we have said we will get back to them," said a diplomat from the EU trio.
U.S. OPPOSITION
Informal talks between the two sides have been tentatively scheduled for April 29 in London (more and more delays as the Mullahs feverishly proceed with obtaining nuclear weapons), diplomats said, in addition to lower-level discussions beforehand in Geneva.
However, an EU diplomat close to the talks said Washington would oppose the EU agreeing to Iran's proposal.
"We can talk about a pilot enrichment plant, but our hands are tied. We'd lose the Americans if we agreed to it," he said.
Washington's support is vital to incentives offered to Iran such as beginning talks on joining the World Trade Organization and allowing Tehran to buy commercial aircraft spare parts. (Which, by the way, amounts to the US offering nothing: WTO acceptance takes a decade, and the Mullahs get all the airplane parts they want from other Gulf states.)
One diplomat said the EU trio was divided on whether a compromise over enrichment would be acceptable, with France prepared to permit it (What a startling surprise!!) , Britain strongly opposed and Germany between the two.
EU willingness to consider a compromise could be an attempt to boost support within Iran for those who favor engagement with the EU, ahead of June's presidential election.
"Even discussing this with the EU is considered a victory for the Iranians," one diplomat said.
onedomino said:This is Al-Reuters, so the veracity of the following account is suspect by definition. There are unsubstantiated claims; such as the first sentence of the report. If this report is true, then there will be no deal that includes Washington and the E3 will have succeeded in giving the Iranian bomb program diplomatic cover.
Said1 said:I find it odd that a cash strapped, oil rich country would want to do this at all given the cost of developing it themselves for supposed purpose of alternative energy use.
