Iran Said to be Close to Nuclear Deal

Details of the deal between Teheran and the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were not clear, but diplomats close to the talks have said they would include the production, testing and assembly of centrifuges.

Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium for power stations and can be enriched further to produce material for atomic bombs.

Talks between Iran and the IAEA, headed by Mohamed El Baradei (photo), took place over the weekend. Envoys from the EU's "Big Three," Germany, France and Britain, followed the discussions closely.

"Iran said this weekend that they would come back to the suspension. El Baradei is trying to work out the details with the Iranians," a Western diplomat told the Reuters news agency.

Iran's nuclear program has been a cause of concern among Western politicians. The United State has accused Teheran of wanting to developing its uranium enrichment program to make material nuclear weapons and wants the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on the country for failing to meet its commitments to the IAEA.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is purely for energy generation.

"Iran has never pursued nuclear arms but we are serious about having peaceful nuclear technology," the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rowhani told Iran's state television.

Last year, EU foreign ministers from France, Germany and Britain convinced Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, but in June, Teheran reneged on the pledge and resumed the production and testing of nuclear centrifuges. Just last week, it said it intended on processing 37 tons of raw uranium into uranium hexafluoride, the feed material for centrifuges.

The possible deal agreed after this weekend's talks could ease improve the diplomatic situation ahead of the IAEA meeting on Sept. 13.

EU mediation

The European Union has spearheaded efforts to ease the standoff between the US and Iran over the latter's nuclear activities. The US has preferred to take a hard line with Teheran while the Europeans have chosen a strategy of diplomatic engagement. But Teheran's activities have had them worried.

"We cannot accept of course the development of weapon-grade uranium," said Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency. "That signal should be very strong and should be unanimously given over by the 25" EU member states.

The Dutch made the call in a statement late Monday night after a visit by Iran's Rowhani in Amsterdam, where he met with Bot and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. The Dutch also raised a number of other concerns, including human rights, terrorism and Iran's position towards Israel.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has also turned up the pressure on Iran, saying a nuclear-capable Iran "can become a subject for the (UN) Security Council."

EU foreign ministers who met over the weekend said they were discussing whether or not to take Iran to the UN Security Council to ensure it is not secretly trying to develop atomic weapons. Britain, Germany and France are preparing a draft resolution to be presented to the IAEA Board of Governors when it meets next week.