'US dismissed Iranian plan to resolve nuclear crisis'
New York Times reports Tehran offered Washington nine-step plan to relinquish nuclear program in exchange for West lifting all sanctions, but US found proposal 'unworkable'
WASHINGTON – The United States has reportedly chosen to dismiss a nine-point plan offered by Iran to resolve the nuclear crisis, the New York Times reported Friday.
According to the report, Tehran presented Washington with a nine-step plan that would see the Islamic Republic relinquish it nuclear endeavors in exchange for the US gradually lifting the international sanctions that are crippling its economy.
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The United States reportedly rejected the offer, citing it called for so many concessions by the West, to the point where Washington said it was "unworkable," and that it was made with the intent of creating nothing but a media buzz.
US officials told the newspaper that the proposal indicated that Iran was crumbling under the crushing impact of the sanctions, particularly those imposed on its oil industry.
'Khamenei is too erratic'
According to the NYT, the proposal was presented to US officials during the Iranian mission's visit to the UN General Assembly in New York City.
"Within the intelligence community, I think it’s fair to say that there is split opinion about whether the upper level of the (Iranian) regime is getting seriously worried,” a senior intelligence official was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he added, may be feeling the pressure, but "He's erratic, and we’ve seen him walk up to the edge of deals before and walk away."
The Iranian plan is said to be based on a proposal made to European Union officials in July.
It calls for a gradual lift of the sanctions, as Iran simultaneously ends work at one of two sites, known to be uranium enrichment facilities.
The Iranian plan is said to be based on a proposal made to European Union officials in July.
It calls for a gradual lift of the sanctions, as Iran simultaneously ends work at one of two sites, known to be uranium enrichment facilities.
But the Iranian plan stated that only after step number nine is reached, i.e. - after all the sanctions have been lifted and Iran sees its oil revenues recover – would Tehran "suspend" medium-enriched uranium production at Fordo.
White House officials told the NYT that it was more likely the proposal was "meant to generate headlines, but would not guarantee that Iran cannot produce a weapon."
The plan's outline "means you can move the fuel around, and it stays inside the country… yet we’re supposed to lift sanctions that would take years to re-impose, if we could get countries to agree," a senior Obama administration official said.
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