The United States and Europe have tentatively agreed on a plan to accept expanded nuclear activity by Iran, but only if the enrichment process is moved to Russia, senior officials and diplomats said yesterday. If accepted by Iran, the compromise proposal could end a dispute over whether to refer the Islamic republic to the United Nations' Security Council. But actual enrichment would take place in Russia. The IAEA is alleged to be investigating nearly 18 years of covert Iranian nuclear activities, including experiments that could be used in weapons development, which were revealed more than three years ago. But a senior European official said the EU-3 and Washington were now prepared to allow Iran to continue conversion as long as the gas produced was shipped to Russia and enriched there. That would allow international control over the level of enrichment, ensuring that it was below the levels that can be used for weapons. |
