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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Photo: AP
EU Envoy Javier Solana. Withheld threats
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Diplomats: US to supply nuclear technology to Iran

Diplomatic sources say Washington willing to provide Islamic republic with nuclear technology if country stops enriching uranium; Tehran to be offered additional incentives by Western powers. Iran foreign minister says country will 'seriously study' proposal

In a surprising concession, the United States is prepared to provide Iran with some nuclear technology if it stops enriching uranium, diplomats said Tuesday.

 

The offer was part of a package of incentives presented to Tehran Tuesday by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the diplomats, who were familiar with the proposals, said.

 

The incentives - handed to senior Iranian representatives in Tehran - also include European offers of help in building nuclear reactors for a peaceful energy program, the diplomats said. A European offer of light water reactors meant for civilian nuclear energy purposes was revealed last month.

 

The diplomats said Solana withheld the other part of the package - a series of measures meant to penalize Tehran if it does not relinquish enrichment, which can generate power but also can be used to make weapons-grade uranium for the core of nuclear warheads.

 

US seeking to 'sweeten' Iran deal

 

Solana "carried a message" about potential penalties but withheld the specific threats - including the possibility of UN Sanctions - so as not to jeopardize the "positive" atmosphere, said one of the diplomats.

 

Diplomats already revealed Monday that the US had sweetened what had initially been a European offer by agreeing to provide Boeing aircraft parts for Iran's aging civilian fleet. Just days before, Washington broke with decades of official policy of no high-level diplomatic contacts with Tehran, announcing it was ready to join in multi-nation talks with the Islamic republic over its nuclear program.

 

The offer is being sponsored by the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

 

Iran prepared to 'study' incentives

 

Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister told his Japanese counterpart Tuesday that Tehran would "seriously study" the incentives offered by the world powers to persuade it to curb its nuclear program, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.

 

Manouchehr Mottaki's comments came during a 25-minute phone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, the ministry said in a statement.

 

Mottaki said Tehran would "seriously study" the proposal but said Iran had the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, the statement said.

 

Mottaki also said the United States was to blame for the lack of trust between Washington and Tehran, and said he felt the international community shared Iran's distrust of the US, according to the statement.

 

During the conversation, which took place after Mottaki met with EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana in Tehran, Aso repeated demands that Tehran stop its uranium enrichment program to regain the trust of the international community, the statement said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.06.06, 19:15
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