US opposition to compromise on Iran nuclear program
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-03-08 09:18

Stiff US opposition and a refusal by Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment appeared to doom a Russian compromise designed to head off UN Security Council action against Tehran's atomic program.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei(L) talks to chairman of the board Yukia Amano prior to the second session of talks. Stiff US opposition and a refusal by Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment appeared to doom a Russian compromise designed to head off UN Security Council action on Tehran's atomic program.[AFP]

The rift emerged as the watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met in Vienna to consider Iran's program, which Tehran says is for energy but the West fears is hiding a covert drive for the atom bomb.

The row hinges on whether Iran should be allowed to do small-scale research work on enriching uranium, which is used as fuel for nuclear reactors but can -- in highly refined form -- be the explosive core of a bomb.

Iran is ready to hold off on industrial-scale enrichment for two years, a diplomat told AFP, but refuses to suspend small-scale work believed to have less of a proliferation risk.

Under Moscow's plan, Tehran would eventually be able to do research on the enrichment process but without gaining the technology it needs for large-scale enrichment for weapons use.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday in Washington that his country had made no "compromise" proposal that would allow Iran to enrich uranium, even in small quantities.

"There is no compromise to the Russian proposal," Lavrov said following talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which were dominated by mounting tensions over Iran's nuclear programme.

Lavrov was believed to be referring to the fact that Russia would at first insist on full suspension of enrichment by Iran, in order to start talks. But eventually the deal could lead to Iran doing research on the strategic process.

Iran views research work as involving up to 3,000 centrifuges, the machines which enrich uranium, but experts say that is an industrial-level figure.

The United States restated its view that Iran has already "crossed the international red line."

"The Iranian regime needs to know that if its stays on its present course, the international community is prepared to impose meaningful consequences," Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech to a US- Israel lobbying group.

He said the United States was keeping "all options on the table" in addressing the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program.

"We join other nations in sending that regime a clear message: We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," he said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters in Washington: "We've made it very clear, as have many in the international community, that the regime must suspend all enrichment activity."

McClellan said that after the IAEA meeting, Washington expected the nuclear dossier to move to the UN Security Council.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors was due to hear a report on Iran on Wednesday.

The 15-page report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei says that Iran has failed to heed IAEA calls for it to suspend uranium enrichment and to cooperate fully with IAEA inspectors, according to a copy obtained by AFP.

Iran said in an advance reaction that "the purely technical nuclear issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran is politicized.

"The bias, exaggerated and unjustified information has misled the international community," according to a statement obtained by AFP.

ElBaradei had said Monday at the start of the board meeting that he was hopeful of an agreement over the crisis, which has accelerated since the watchdog first voted to report Iran to the Security Council on February 4.

Before taking further action the board left a month open for diplomacy, which ended last week, when ElBaradei sent an assessment report to the Security Council.

The IAEA could first adopt a "presidential declaration" urging Tehran to heed its calls to suspend enrichment and cooperate with inspectors, diplomats said, with sanctions coming as a later step.

But ElBaradei spoke Monday of a possible deal in around a week on the thorny issue of research-level uranium enrichment.

Resolving this issue would open the way for Iran to restart talks with the so-called EU-3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- on guaranteeing it is not seeking nuclear weapons.

A top Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ali Meshkini, called Tuesday for a "political and rational solution" to the nuclear crisis but stressed the Islamic republic could not accept demands to abandon sensitive atomic work.

Meanwhile China urged Iran to cooperate with the IAEA, while calling on all sides involved in the crisis to exercise restraint.

"There is still time for a settlement of the issue within the framework of the IAEA," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said.

Iran's talks with the European troika broke off in August when Iran resumed some enrichment activities. It began small-scale actual enrichment in February.