EU may resume Iran nuclear talks-diplomats

Louis Charbonneau and Mark Heinrich, Reuters:

The EU is ready to resume talks with Iran on its nuclear programme provided it agrees to discuss a Russian proposal that it shift plans to enrich uranium to a joint venture in Russia, diplomats said on Tuesday.

The talks could take place on December 6, even though Iran has failed to meet an EU demand that it stop uranium conversion -- a stage before enrichment in the nuclear fuel cycle. READ MORE

In a bid to avert a crisis over Iran's atomic programme -- which Washington says is designed to produce nuclear bombs -- Moscow has proposed that Tehran be allowed to continue to convert uranium ore but then ship it to Russia for enrichment.

"We are considering a meeting in December in Vienna. The Iranians would have to say they want to meet and talk about the Russian proposal," a diplomat from the so-called EU3 -- France, Britain and Germany -- said on condition of anonymity.

"December 6 is pretty much fixed as the date," he said.

Under a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has been backed by U.S. President George W. Bush, Iran would shift uranium enrichment to Russia as part of a joint venture.

Uranium enrichment is the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle since it can produce weapons-grade material. Iran says its nuclear programme is purely for generating electricity.

The EU3 had previously insisted that Iran halt all sensitive nuclear work, including uranium conversion, before it would resume talks. The EU diplomat said the EU3 were prepared to make a major concession in the interests of resuming dialogue.

Britain confirmed that a meeting with the Iranians was under consideration.

"We will consider next steps, including a possible meeting with the Iranians after the board," a British Foreign Office spokesman said, referring to a meeting on Thursday of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors on Iran.

No official comment was available from Tehran. But Iran has stressed repeatedly that it aims to enrich uranium domestically, calling this a sovereign right.

NO REFERRAL

Other EU3 officials confirmed a meeting was under consideration.

But they said many aspects -- including the timing, the venue and the seniority of officials who would attend -- were unclear and warned that the plans for a meeting might yet be derailed.

In addition to Vienna, Brussels and Geneva were possible venues for a meeting, one EU3 diplomat said.

The EU3 have been trying to convince Tehran to renounce all sensitive nuclear work in return for political and economic incentives.

They broke off talks in August after Iran resumed mothballed uranium conversion work at its plant in Isfahan, and had threatened, along with the United States, to send Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

On Monday, EU and U.S. officials said they would not push the IAEA's 35-nation board to refer Iran this week to the U.N. Security Council. They cited a desire to allow Iran more time to think about the Russian plan.

(Additional reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna and Madeline Chambers in London)