US May Drop Nuclear Condition for Iran Talks

Country may be allowed to continue enriching uranium after talks begin

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 14, 2009 1:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration is considering dropping the long-standing US insistence that Iran shut down its nuclear facilities before talks begin, insiders tell the New York Times. The proposal—which represents a major policy shift—would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium for a period during talks, possibly in return for allowing inspectors expanded access.

The proposal is aimed at drawing Iran into talks it has so far shunned. Insisting Iran shut down all its facilities before talks on its nuclear program begin is "simply not going to work—experience tells us the Iranians are not going to buy it,” said a senior European official involved in strategy talks. “So we are going to start with some interim steps, to build a little trust."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Iran's new facility producing uranium fuel for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor, 255 miles south of Tehran, Thursday, April 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures to supporters in Isfahan. Ahmadinejad has said he is ready for talks with the West if they focus on "respect and justice." (AP photo/ISNA news agency/Amir Pourmandi)

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They thought that if you threatened enough and pounded the table and sent Cheney off to act like Darth Vader the Iranians would just stop. - International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El Baradei on the Bush administration's Iran policy

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COMMENTS

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

Rob

Apr 14, 2009 5:49 AM CDT

And just when would that "ratcheting up" take place? The situation has been getting steadily worse and Iranian stockpiles of U 235 growing every day.

woodyTX

Apr 14, 2009 4:30 AM CDT

With Israel more hawkish under Netanyahu and threatening to bomb Iran, the US can more afford to be the good cop in this drama for a finite period of time. Whether the new approach will do any better remains to be seen. Inspections were working in Iraq before the Bush Blunder. You never know. If it doesn't work then the US has to ratchet up the pressure in a hurry in my view. I can see John Bolton going apoplectic at the news of this. He wants to invade Somalia.................

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Iran • diplomacy • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad • International Atomic Energy Agency • enriched uranium • nuclear facilities • Obama administration

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US May Drop Nuclear Condition for Iran Talks