TEHRAN - Iran said on Sunday it had submitted a letter to the United Nations' atomic watchdog announcing it would suspend uranium enrichment activities as part of a deal with the EU to avoid possible U.N. Security Council sanctions.
Hassan Rohani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said the suspension would remain in place as long as talks with the EU continued on a final resolution of Iran's nuclear case.
An EU diplomat close to the talks said Iran had agreed to all points covered in an agreement hammered out by the two sides in Paris last weekend. "We have reached a full agreement regarding all the issues mentioned in the package," he said.
Iran's announcement of a suspension of enrichment -- a process that can be used to make fuel for atomic reactors or nuclear warheads -- comes just in time to be included in a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), due to be released on Monday.
It should also be enough for Iran to avoid US efforts to have the case sent to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Iran denies US accusations that its nuclear energy program is a front for an atomic weapons bid.
"One hour ago we submitted a letter to the IAEA," Rohani told reporters after a meeting in Tehran with the ambassadors of Britain, Germany and France, who have been leading the negotiations on behalf of the EU. Diplomats in Vienna confirmed the IAEA had received the letter.
Rohani said the suspension would be "during the period of talks" with the EU.
Once the suspension is in place the "EU Three" have said they will sit down with Iran to discuss a package of incentives -- ranging from cooperation on peaceful nuclear technology to a possible trade deal -- in return for Iran permanently giving up any activities that could be used to make bomb-grade material.
Rohani's deputy Hossein Mousavian told reporters those talks would start on Dec. 15.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
