Iran-EU Nuclear Deal in Final Stages

14/11/2004| IslamWeb

Iran's negotiations with the European Union over a deal which would spare Tehran from possible UN sanctions are in their final stages, Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi says. "Negotiations with Europe were intense and important and ... they are in their final stages," Kharrazi told state television on Saturday. "We have given them our final response and await their final decision and we hope to pass this stage smoothly." Iran and the European Union's big three powers - Britain, Germany and France - have been negotiating a deal for the past few weeks under which Tehran would agree to freeze sensitive nuclear work such as uranium enrichment. In return, the EU would not support US calls for Iran's case to be sent to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions and would sit down with Iran to work out a solution to the nuclear dispute. Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to generating electricity from atomic power plants, not making bombs. **No announcement yet*** Tehran gave its response to the EU deal on Thursday but there has been no announcement yet of a final agreement. EU diplomats say Iran has been trying to change some of the terms of the deal, including the scope of the enrichment suspension. The International Atomic Energy Agency is due to release a report shortly on Iran's nuclear programme ahead of an IAEA board meeting on 25 November. The IAEA has found several potentially weapons-related activities in Iran but so far no "smoking gun" that points to a nuclear arms programme. Kharrazi said it was time for Iran's case to be closed. "We have done all we could to cooperate with the agency. Most of the questions are addressed now. There is nothing more Iran can do... We think it is time to close Iran's case with the agency," he said. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (C) surrounded by MPs leaves after a parliament session. (AFP)