Iran agrees to a freeze on nuke programs

By Dafna Linzer
The Washington Post

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WASHINGTON — Dropping a last-minute demand to keep using centrifuges, Iran agreed yesterday to suspend its nuclear programs and won some additional concessions from Europe for a resolution that excludes many of the Bush administration's proposals for increasing pressure on the Islamic republic.

The resolution, drafted by Britain, France and Germany, does not include the explicit threat the White House had sought: reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible economic sanctions if it breaks the latest agreement.

The United States contends Iran is building a nuclear-weapons program. Iran, a nation rich in natural gas and oil, says it wants a nuclear capability to produce electricity.

The resolution, which The Washington Post obtained, calls on the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inform countries if Iran does not adhere to its pledges and makes clear the agency's verification is "essential" for knowing whether the commitment is being kept.

The resolution also includes a sentence that says Iran's suspension of its nuclear programs is a "voluntary, non-legally binding confidence-building measure," giving Iran a lot of maneuvering room should the United States try to take it to task for ending the suspension.

The Bush administration tried, unsuccessfully, to convince allies that Iran should be the target of more aggressive U.N. inspections, as Iraq had been before the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

Iran has been under IAEA investigation for two years, and inspectors frequently visit the country. But under international treaty laws, Iran is not obligated to provide access to military sites and has been cooperating voluntarily with the investigation.

The IAEA's board will meet to possibly adopt the resolution today in Vienna, Austria, though diplomats cautioned there could be more negotiating.

"People here are very unhappy about all this, but we have to go through the motions," one official in Washington said. "We think Iran will break this deal soon enough, anyway."
 
Iran's commitment to halt its nuclear programs was part of an agreement it reached with Britain, France and Germany two weeks ago. In exchange for the suspension, the European countries promised Iran they wouldn't support U.S. attempts to refer the case to the Security Council as long as the suspension holds.

Iran almost derailed the deal last week when it announced it would continue research work with 20 centrifuges. After three days of international pressure, Iran sent a letter yesterday rescinding the request but used it to win additional concessions from the Europeans, including the added mention that the suspension was voluntary.

Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium for power generation or, if the uranium is highly enriched, for nuclear weapons. And while uranium enrichment does not violate the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that Iran has signed, for months it has been under pressure to freeze all related activities to ease fears it might want to use the technology to make weapons.

In a face-saving arrangement, the 20 centrifuges will not be under IAEA seal. Instead, diplomats said, the equipment will be monitored by agency cameras, and Iran has promised not to use the centrifuges, diplomats said.

Gary Samore, a nonproliferation expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, called Iran's maneuvering a "negotiating gambit" aimed at scoring points ahead of the crucial next round of negotiations with the Europeans, set to begin in mid-December. "The board resolution is just a holding action to establish the basis for long-term negotiations between Iran and the EU," he said.

The second phase of the agreement will begin next month, when diplomats from all four countries begin open-ended negotiations on nuclear, economic and regional security issues aimed at reaching a final accord between Iran and Europe. European officials expect the talks to end with Iran permanently giving up its nuclear ambitions.

The Europeans are aiming to make the suspension permanent with a deal that could lead to European support for Iranian membership in the World Trade Organization and access to a light-water reactor.

Material from The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times is included in this report.