Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, yesterday disclosed elements of Iran's latest proposal to resolve the crisis over its nuclear programme while offering the possibility that the EU could accept a solution short of its original demands.
Since the latest round of negotiations ended inconclusively in London last Friday, Iran has warned that it was prepared to resume some nuclear enrichment-related activities. The EU and US say this would be regarded as a breech of Iran's agreed freeze of its nuclear programme and would lead to referral to the UN Security Council.
Mr Solana, speaking to reporters in Washington, said the "starting point" of the EU demands was complete cessation of uranium enrichment and related activities. He suggested that a solution "pretty close" to full cessation could be acceptable.
Any idea of compromise was immediately rejected by officials taking part in the negotiations led by France, Germany and the UK, the EU3. Mr Solana's comments also clashed with recent statements by the Bush administration demanding full cessation and dismantlement of Iran's nuclear enrichment-related programme.
Mr Solana did not attend the London talks. However he said he heard that the Iranian negotiators made an informal proposal that Iran be allowed to resume production of uranium hexafluoride gas at its Isfahan facility. The gas would be shipped out of Iran for enrichment into fuel and returned to Iran for use in civilian reactors. Iran would not use its own centrifuges to enrich, a process that could lead to weapons-grade material.
Mr Solana said he was personally opposed to the proposal. He noted that the Iranian negotiators possibly represented different factions in Tehran and could not be said to be presenting an official position.
A European official who took part in the talks said Mr Solana was mistaken. He said there was no discussion of removing the uranium hexafluoride from Iran for enrichment but only of placing it under international supervision. The Iranian proposal did not represent a substantial advance and could not form a basis for discussions, he added.
An Iranian official said Iran proposed resumption of production of the gas, allowing continuous international inspection of the facility as a confidence building measure, as well as a suspension for six more months of all other activities.
The EU is anxious to prevent a collapse in the negotiations before Iran holds presidential elections on June 17, fearing that a breakdown would strengthen hardliners.
