Report: Iran will halt enrichment if West removes sanctions
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Iran expressed readiness to freeze its uranium enrichment program in return for lifting the international sanctions imposed on it, Channel 2 analyst Ehud Ya'ari revealed Thursday evening.
Iranian President Mahmoud...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures to the media during a press conference in Teheran.
Photo: AP
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He cited unnamed Western officials as the source of the new development.
Iran has staunchly resisted repeated incentive packages offered by the West in return for halting it enrichment program and has also intermittently limited access of IAEA officials to its nuclear sites.
The West, spearheaded by the US and Israel, rejects Iran's claim that its nuclear program is geared towards peaceful purposes only.
Recently a set of sanctions was imposed on Teheran by the European Union, after the UN has already imposed three rounds of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The recent EU sanctions include a ban on trading with Bank Melli, Iran's main state-sponsored bank.
The unconfirmed report Thursday comes after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed scorn at the West's sanctions and said Iran will push on with its nuclear program despite them.
Reportedly, talks on Iran freezing its enrichment program were being held between the Islamic Republic and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, Britain, France and china - and also Germany and the EU.
The incentives offered include rebuilding Iran's fleet of aircraft and aiding the country with civilian nuclear technology.
The package has been given a timeframe of six weeks; the Iranians announced they preferred the deal to go forth immediately.
Well, it seems as if the Israeli training exercise combined with the sanctions and US saber rattling has worked. You need the carrot and the stick
OR, they were really really frightened by big bad Barry talking them to death
