The European Union has quietly abandoned its demand that Iran suspend uranium enrichment indefinitely, diplomats said ahead of a critical round of talks. Ambassadors from Britain, France, and Germany delivered a written proposal to Tehran on Tuesday, with a Paris meeting set for Friday.
The revised language ties any enrichment pause to the duration of ongoing negotiations rather than imposing an open-ended halt. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier reinforced the shift, calling publicly for a "lasting" freeze while deliberately avoiding the word "indefinite."
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Hossein Mousavian, said Tehran could accept a six-month suspension but rejected any permanent halt or legally binding obligation, describing a pause as a voluntary confidence-building measure. Iran's national security council was reported to be divided, with a slim majority leaning toward suspension.
President Mohammad Khatami expressed optimism ahead of Friday's session while insisting Iran's enrichment rights were non-negotiable. Tehran pressed for trade, technology, and security incentives to be delivered upfront rather than contingent on the conclusion of talks.
The United States, keeping its distance from the European effort, was pushing for the IAEA to refer Iran to the UN Security Council at a 25 November meeting in Vienna, a step that could open the door to sanctions.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in November 2004, in its own words.