Iran gives first ‘detailed’ response to plan drawn up to break nuclear impasse

Earlier, a statement from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran “will
not carry out enrichment to that level” if the “P5 plus 1”
were to provide the fuel for the reactor – something they have previously
offered.

“Even today, if they give us the guarantee that they will supply 20 per
cent fuel for our reactors, there will be no problem,” added Mr
Ahmadinejad.

Mr Jalili was not as conciliatory as his president however. Michael Mann,
spokesman for the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs,
said Iran had “engaged in detail, but not in the way we would like them
to”. The talks, he added, had been “intense and tough”.

Another diplomat said that Iran had been “very overt today – more than
they’ve ever been – in discussing the 20 per cent in a detailed and frank
way.”

In many rounds of previous talks, Iran has often declined to respond to
proposals. The fact that a reply was forthcoming yesterday marks a small but
possibly significant move.

However, there was no detailed negotiation: Iran and the “P5 plus 1”
simply laid out their respective positions. Mr Jalili, the secretary of
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also gave what a diplomat
described as “the traditional lengthy rehearsal of past grievances,”
dwelling on episodes stretching back to 1968.

His response is understood to have posed a series of questions about the
proposal. Iran wants formal recognition of its “right” to enrich
uranium and the lifting of all sanctions. However, six UN resolutions call
on Iran to halt enrichment, a process that could be used to make the
essential material for a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, a European Union oil
embargo will come into full effect on July 1 – and postponing or lifting
this threat was not discussed.

The negotiations will continue today.

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes