Iranian Negotiators Show Support for Uranium Deal

Negotiators representing Iran in a round of nuclear talks yesterday agreed in principle to a deal that would put off their country’s ability to create nuclear weapons. The deal would send the majority of the country’s existing enriched uranium to Russia for processing. Mohamed ElBaradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, noted that three representatives from Iran, as well as those from the U.S., Russia and France, had accepted draft language and would forward the initial agreement language to the decision makers in their respective countries.

Said Ali Asghar Soltanieh, the chief delegate of Iran, noted that the draft was a good start. Soltanieh noted, "We have to thoroughly study this text and also further elaboration in capitals." While Tehran continues to insist that its nuclear-related activities are peaceful, and intended for purposes of producing energy, there are doubts about those claims. Still, the potential breakthrough yesterday appears to be a solid first step.

Said ElBaradei, "Everybody who participated at the meeting was trying to look at the future not at the past, trying to heal the wounds. I very much hope that people see the big picture, see that this agreement could open the way for a complete normalization of relations between Iran and the international community." Very few details of the proposed plan were released, but the IRNA news agency is still taking a hard stance, noting, "Iran has not signed any deal about meeting the fuel needs of the Tehran reactor" and that the new draft deal is "aimed at imposing psychological pressure on Iran, but Iran won’t heed such pressure and will only decide on the basis of its national interests."