Germany could accept nuclear enrichment in Iran
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-29 15:06
NO GERMAN DENIAL
But Berlin did not deny it or say that it was "erroneous."
German government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said in a statement to Reuters
that it stood firm with the five council members on the issue of Iran in backing
the June 6 offer and reiterated that Berlin wanted Iran to suspend enrichment in
order to enable negotiations on the offer to take place.
"It's up to Iran, through a suspension of enrichment, to create the
conditions for negotiations and win back international trust," Wilhelm said.
"Nothing has changed regarding the position of the six countries and the
German government," he said.
Western countries worry that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons under
cover of an atomic power program. Iran says it only wants peaceful nuclear
energy.
Diplomats familiar with the offer say it does allow for Iran to enrich,
though the timeframe would have to be negotiated.
Jung did not mention any timeframe when Iran -- which has been enriching
uranium for months on a small scale -- could be permitted to make nuclear fuel
with the West's blessing. But he said close IAEA oversight would be sufficient
to show the world whether Tehran's nuclear program was as peaceful as it says.
"IAEA inspections can provide those assurances through monitoring. That is
not a problem," he said.
It may be that the implication that Iran could, at least in theory, safely
enrich uranium under IAEA supervion is what prompted the U.S. reaction to Jung's
comments. Many in Washington would prefer that Iran not enrich at all for many
years to come -- if ever.
But according to one IAEA diplomat, who requested anonymity due to the
sensitivity of the issue, there are officials in all six of the countries that
made the offer who agree with Jung.
|
