Senior diplomats from Britain, France, and Germany met with Iranian officials in Vienna in October 2004, presenting a package of incentives and warnings aimed at persuading Tehran to abandon uranium enrichment activities.
According to a confidential seven-page document the three countries shared with G8 partners in Washington, the offer included access to a light-water research reactor, nuclear fuel for civilian use, and resumed trade negotiations with the European Union. In return, Iran would have to indefinitely suspend all uranium enrichment, including related support work such as centrifuge construction.
If Tehran refused, the Europeans said they would join the United States in pushing to bring Iran before the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions or mandate a suspension of enrichment under Article 41 of the UN Charter.
Iran's UN nuclear watchdog envoy said his country would need to study any proposal before responding. President Mohammad Khatami insisted Iran had the right to peaceful nuclear technology but said Tehran remained open to talks.
The IAEA was scheduled to rule on 25 November on whether Iran was cooperating with its investigation, which had been under way since February 2003 following US allegations of a covert weapons program.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.