VIENNA, 23 October 2004 — Europe’s three key states are to meet with Iran next week to hear Tehran’s response to their offer for it to avoid possible UN sanctions and receive nuclear technology by indefinitely suspending uranium enrichment, diplomats said yesterday. “Yes, it will be in Vienna, probably in mid-week,” a diplomat close to the talks told AFP.
Britain, France and Germany had Thursday presented Iran with an EU-backed deal for it to receive valuable technology, including a light-water nuclear reactor which would produce less fissionable material than the heavy-water reactor Tehran wants to build, if it indefinitely suspended all uranium enrichment activities, said the diplomat.
The Europeans were following up on a call in September by the UN nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, for Iran to immediately suspend uranium enrichment, the process that makes fuel for civilian reactors but also the explosive material for nuclear weapons.
“We are at an initial stage, matters have to be considered on both sides,” Iranian official Sirus Naseri told reporters after the three-hour meeting in Vienna. “I think we’ll get together in a matter of a few days,” Naseri said Thursday.
