Iran has rejected (WashPost) a key element of the United Nations-backed deal aimed at reducing its stockpile of enriched uranium, proposing an informal oral counteroffer that likely would not be acceptable to other countries backing the deal.
Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh presented a case for Iran to ship its uranium out in batches and swap it for new material continuously, rather than shipping it in one batch by the end of the year, as proposed by Obama administration. That would not satisfy major powers, since it would not significantly reduce Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agnecy (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei told the Iranian ambassador to get more clarification from the Iranian government. Diplomats are hoping for a formal written reply from Iran as early as Friday. Iran has also refused to commit to another meeting to discuss its nuclear program.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly told reporters (U.S. Department of State) that ElBaradei's proposal is "a good proposal" and that "there is complete unity among the four parties," on Iran's nuclear program. Soltanieh said earlier (Iranian Labour News) that the "Economic and technical concerns regarding the supply of fuel for the research reactor in Tehran should be discussed."
Analysis
The Financial Times reports that U.S. comments indicate that it is more willing to show patience than Britain and France as a test of the Obama administration's engagement policy.
Reuters reports that by Iran saying it remains committed to the deal's framework for cooperation, it keeps the door open for more talks and puts off the threat of sanctions until at least next year.
In Foreign Policy, Hillary Mann Leverett says the United States needs to recognize that Iran is capable of negotiating in an "active and constructive way" over its nuclear program.
Background
A CFR Backgrounder outlines Iran's nuclear program.
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