Draft deal could ease tensions with Iran

THE UN’s atomic watchdog yesterday handed Iran and world powers a draft deal for approval by tomorrow that could dramatically ease tensions over the Islamic republic’s controversial nuclear programme.

The agreement was brokered after crunch talks between Iran, Russia, the United States and France, and has been sent to the capitals for final approval, said Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

ElBaradei declined to reveal any details about the draft document, but diplomats said it included demands that Iran ship out most of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium for further processing by another country.