TEHRAN, June 6: Proposals on Tuesday by six world powers to end a dispute over Iran’s nuclear fuel enrichment had positive points but also some ‘ambiguities’ that must be removed, Tehran’s chief negotiator said.
The proposals, which have not been made public but include incentives and penalties, seek to persuade Iran to give up enriching uranium, which the West fears will be used to build atomic bombs. Tehran says its nuclear aims are purely civilian.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana presented Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Larijani with the package, agreed by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.
“The proposals had some positive steps in them and some ambiguities which should be removed,” Mr Larijani said. He did not elaborate on the ‘ambiguities’.
“We hope, after we study the proposal in detail, we will have another round of talks and negotiations to achieve a balanced and logical conclusion,” he said.
The United States said it was heartening Iran was taking the incentives package seriously.
But Washington reiterated the Iranian government needed to suspend nuclear enrichment activities before any direct talks.
Progress will depend on overcoming deep mutual mistrust.
Tehran has resisted probes by the UN atomic energy agency, which has alleged military links with nuclear work and possible secret activity, although no hard evidence of diversions into bomb-making has been found.
For its part, Washington, which broke ties with Tehran in 1980, says it wants a diplomatic solution but refuses to rule out military action.
HAGGLING ON INCENTIVES: “If the Iranians agree to suspend enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, then we’ll be able to discuss more openly what the incentives are and we certainly hope that that’s the case,” White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters travelling with President George Bush.
So far, Iran has refused to give up uranium enrichment — a process that can be used to make fuel for nuclear power stations or, if enriched to a sufficiently high level, material for bombs. Iran says enrichment is a national right.
Iran’s IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Mr Solana: “What is important in giving the incentives is supporting Iran’s rights on research in (nuclear) technology. This issue should be very clear and without any ambiguity in the negotiations.”
Iranian officials have hinted Tehran might negotiate over its plans for industrial-scale enrichment but have insisted on keeping research and development activities.
