VIENNA, 27 November 2004 — Iran and European negotiators have apparently salvaged a deal committing Tehran to freezing all parts of a program that can make nuclear-weapons grade uranium, diplomats said yesterday.
One of the diplomats told the Associated Press that under the compromise, Iran would give up its insistence that 20 centrifuges be exempted from a total freeze of all uranium enrichment activities.
But instead of accepting seals from the International Atomic Energy Agency on the equipment, the centrifuges would be monitored for inactivity by IAEA cameras, said the diplomat, who is familiar with Iran’s nuclear dossier and who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Other diplomats said details still needed to be finalized before the agreement was formally announced but confirmed the essence of the deal.
Iran’s interpretation of its deal with the European Union to freeze all activities linked to uranium enrichment — which can produce both nuclear fuel and the material for the core of atomic warheads — had led to fears that the agreement would be scuttled.
