AFP: Officials from Britain, France and Germany were in talks with their Iranian counterparts Thursday in Vienna at a meeting to give Tehran a final chance to reassure the world that it is not secretly developing atomic weapons. The European nations are reported to be offering Iran valuable technology for peaceful nuclear energy if Iran complies, but possible UN sanctions if it does not. AFP
VIENNA – Officials from Britain, France and Germany were in talks with their Iranian counterparts Thursday in Vienna at a meeting to give Tehran a final chance to reassure the world that it is not secretly developing atomic weapons.
The European nations are reported to be offering Iran valuable technology for peaceful nuclear energy if Iran complies, but possible UN sanctions if it does not.
Following are extracts from a confidential document, obtained by AFP, that was presented to the G8 group of leading industrialized nations last week.
Diplomats in Vienna said it remained the basis of the European position at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), although modifications might still be made.
The Europeans call on Iran:
— “to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing related activities in a compehensive and internationally verifiable manner … ”
— “the suspension will include the manufacture and import of gas centrifuges and their components; any assembly, installation, testing or operation of gas centrifuges; all other enrichment and reprocessing activities including work to construct or operate any plutonium separation facility; and the production of feed material for enrichment processes, including all activities to test or operate the uranium conversion facility … any converted yellowcake should be put under IAEA safeguards.”
— “The suspension will be indefinite, until we reach an acceptable long term agreement.”
If Iran complies:
— “We would reaffirm the right of Iran to develop research production and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination in conformity with Article 2 of the NPT” (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty).
— “We would support Russian/Iranian cooperation in the field of power reactors and fuel supply and management.”
— “We would be ready to give political assurances of access to the international fuel market, at market prices, consistent with G8/NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) comparable assurances, with spent fuel being returned and reprocessed outside of Iran.”
— “We would support the acquisition by Iran of a Light Water Research Reactor.”
— “The European Union would be ready to resume negotiations on an EU/Iran trade and cooperation agreement once suspension is verified.”
— “We would continue to support the adherence of Iran to the WTO.”
— “We would cooperate in the prevention and suppression of terrorist acts in accordance with respective legislation and regulations. We would continue to regard the MEK (Iranian resistance group) as a terrorist organization.”
— “We would pursue the objective of an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction … ”
— “We would agree to cooperate with Iran to help it establish and develop an effective national system of export, transit and end-use control of WMD related goods and technologies including dual use … ”
— “We would agree to strengthen cooperation with Iran in the combat of all forms of drug production and trafficking, including in the regional context.”
If Iran does not comply:
— “We will support the referral of the Iranian nuclear issue to the UNSC (United Nations Security Council).”
— “We would consider the opportunity presented by the Tehran agreement of 21 October 2003 to resolve the questions relating to Iran’s nuclear programme within the framework of the IAEA not to have been taken by Iran.”
Once at the Security Council:
— “If an initial political call to Iran were not successful, the Security Council could then consider making the suspension mandatory. It could also consider strengthening the powers of the IAEA to carry out inspections in Iran.”
— “Should Iran reject the Security Council’s demands, the Council would have to consider what measures might be appropriate under Article 41 of the UN charter. But we do not need to consider that in more detail at this stage.”
