Washington - A new proposal to get the ball rolling in
discussions with Iran about its uranium enrichment activities
appeared to involve a combination of tit-for-tat moves as a show of
good faith in the stalemated talks.
Over the past days, Western diplomats have told British
journalists and CNN that the proposal, sent to Tehran by the European
Union's top diplomat Javier Solana last month, would have Iran freeze
its current level of enrichment capacity for a certain time period
during which the European Union would refrain from floating new
sanctions.
CNN indicated the period would be six weeks.
The reports were the latest signs of a thaw in the crisis. Despite
three sets of United Nations sanctions, Iran has refused to suspend
its uranium enrichment.
To date, the UN Security Council permanent members and Germany
have insisted Iran shut down enrichment before restarting formal
talks - a condition repeated in the updated June 14 proposal
delivered to Tehran.
Iran responded as late as Thursday that it would not suspend its
enrichment programme, but did not address the idea of freezing the
programme at its current level.
The new proposal out of Europe would mean that Iran could not
install any new centrifuges used in enrichment, a step that can
produce weapons-grade fuel, for the interim period.
On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran
was open to discussing a new package of incentives, and said a tit-
for-tat option that has been discussed in diplomatic circles could
'give us time to move along that path and to find that path.'
Iran has yet to formally respond to the newest package of
incentives, but is expected to do so next week.
On Thursday, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
acknowledged only that there was a 'refreshed, enhanced' proposal
before the Iranians, which had the backing of the Security Council's
five permanent members and Germany. The Iranians had yet to respond
to the proposal.
But the US remained steadfast that the six countries would not
resume full negotiations, or halt council talks on new sanctions,
until Iran suspended its enrichment activities.
'The bottom line is, in order to get to those full-blown
negotiations where you have the US and the other five members ...
present at the table with the Iranians, they're going to have to
suspend their enrichment-related activity,' he said.
'And of course there would be a suspension of activities in the
Security Council during that.'
McCormack left open whether more limited, EU-led negotiations
could take place without that full suspension by Iran.
'There is a proposal that is before the Iranians. It is agreed
upon by the P-5- plus-1. It was refreshed, enhanced if you will. But
it was built on a foundation that had been previously agreed upon by
the P-5-plus-1, conveyed to the Iranians, which the Iranians
rejected.
'Now we're at a point where that refreshed proposal is before the
Iranians. They've indicated that they're going to give a response to
that proposal in the near future.'
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