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.