Brussels, 29/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna is to reach an agreement on the Iranian issue on Monday evening after the withdrawal reluctantly agreed by Iran of its request for exemption to a freeze of its uranium enrichment activities. On Sunday evening, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who are negotiating with Teheran on behalf of the EU, forwarded their draft resolution to the 32 other countries of the IAEA Governing Board with a view to its adoption by consensus on Monday afternoon.
A letter sent by Iran to the IAEA on Sunday evening confirmed its pledge to place its 20 centrifuges, that have been the focus of discussions since Thursday last Europe (EUROPE 27 November p 5), under surveillance and Iran also restated its request for partial exemption for certain activities relating to uranium enrichment. "Iran will not carry out any test and will again discuss the matter with Germany, France and the United Kingdom during discussions in December for a long-term agreement on the freeze of our uranium enrichment activities", AFP was told by Iranian negotiator in Vienna, Hossein Moussavian.
Many points of disagreement raised by the Iranians have for a long while hampered submittal of the draft European resolution. Iran rejected the wording of the first article of the draft which spoke of essential continuation of suspension, and demanded that the 20 centrifuges should not be placed under IAEA seals but monitored by cameras; Thus lifting all obstacles to a compromise, however, Teheran manages to prevent the agreement concluded with European on 7 November this year in Paris from disintegrating and prevents doubt being cast about its peaceful intentions, of which the United States is highly sceptical. Washington, which is convinced that Iran is concealing a military programme for the development of nuclear weapons and which is in favour of seizure by the United Nations Security Council, nonetheless supported, albeit unenthusiastically, the European draft resolution that does not mention the Security Council.