Iran to suspend uranium enrichment programme

IRAN will suspend uranium enrichment and allow spot checks of its nuclear programme, as sought by the UN nuclear watchdog agency, a senior Iranian official said yesterday after three European foreign ministers went to Tehran to press the international community’s case.

Iran set no date for the steps.

Iran faces an October 31 deadline, set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, to prove its does not have a nuclear weapons programme as the US alleges. Otherwise, the IAEA will turn to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

After talks with the British, German and French foreign ministers, the secretary of Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council, Hasan Rowhani, said Iran would sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty allowing inspectors to enter any site they deem fit without notice.

“The protocol should not threaten our national security, national interests and national pride,” he told reporters.

He added that for an “interim period,” Iran will suspend nuclear enrichment "to express its goodwill and create a new atmosphere of trust.”