Iran offers to freeze uranium enrichment

IRAN is offering to suspend full-scale uranium enrichment - for up to two years - in a bid by Tehran to escape UN Security Council action over the activity, which can be used to make nuclear arms.

The offer was made on Friday by chief Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani, in Moscow, as talks continued on moving Tehran’s enrichment program to Russia. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was confidential.

Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, however, said his country was not prepared to freeze small-scale enrichment, a key demand of Moscow, Washington and the European Union, along with dozens of other nations.

“We’ve spent a lot on this,” said the envoy, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, outside a 35-nation IAEA board meeting preparing to focus on Iran.

Moscow has become the sole negotiating partner of the Iranians in recent months.

Diplomats familiar with those talks said Moscow was insisting on a full enrichment freeze of up to eight years, including small-scale activity.

In exchange, Russian negotiators promised to float the post-suspension resumption of a limited enrichment program in talks with senior US and European officials.

Strong US opposition, however, appeared close to sinking that initiative.

The diplomats said IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei backed the plan.

US Vice-President Dick Cheney said Iran will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapons and warned “the United States is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible conduct of the regime.”

“The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course, the international community is prepared to impose meaningful consequences,” Mr Cheney said.

“We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”