WASHINGTON (Reuters) - European powers will offer this week to support Iranian construction of a light-water nuclear reactor, as part of a deal to persuade the Islamic republic to stop enriching uranium, U.S. and European officials said on Tuesday.
Driven by U.S. concerns that Iran is developing a secret nuclear arms program, the U.N. nuclear watchdog has demanded Tehran freeze its enrichment activities -- procedures that could produce fuel for atomic weapons. Britain, Germany and France will present a package of "carrots and sticks" on Thursday giving Iran a final chance to meet the demands or face possible sanctions.
| Just when you think the Euros couldn't combine venality with stupidity any better ... |
The Europeans outlined their proposal for ending Iran's uranium enrichment activities at a closed-door meeting of the Group of Eight major powers hosted by Washington last Friday, but the key incentive of support for a light-water reactor did not emerge until Tuesday. "The idea is that Iran would eliminate its plans for a heavy-water reactor and instead go to a light-water reactor system and the EU would help support construction of that," said a U.S. official who has seen the proposal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.
| It's the Clinton plan for the Norks, version 2.0 |
Nuclear experts say light-water reactors provide little help for any nation seeking atomic weapons, unlike heavy-water facilities, which can be used as an alternative to uranium enrichment in producing nuclear weapons material.
A European official confirmed the Europeans included a light-water reactor as part of their package to win a verified suspension and eventual termination of Iran's uranium enrichment. Other incentives in the European offer, which will be detailed to Iranian officials in Vienna on Thursday, include resumption of an EU-Iran trade pact and guarantees of Russian fuel.
U.S. officials are generally skeptical that the negotiations will work because Iran has previously broken pledges made to the Europeans. But in principle, they could accept Tehran's building of light-water reactors. The United States has threatened to press for U.N. sanctions over Iran's nuclear programs. Tehran says its nuclear efforts are only for power generation.
If Iran rejects the European offer, diplomats say most European nations would back U.S. demands that Tehran be reported to the U.N. Security Council when the International Atomic Energy Agency meets in November. The IAEA has been investigating Iran's nuclear program for more than two years. While it has uncovered many previously hidden activities that could be related to a weapons program, it has found no "smoking gun."
| Report them to the IAEA, that'll do it. |
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