Draft Deal Reached In Iranian Nuclear Talks

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

VIENNA, Austria – On October 21, a draft agreement was made for the export of Iran’s enriched uranium in Vienna. The agreement was formed between Iranian negotiators and representatives from the United States, France and Russia.

A final agreement could not be reached after two days of negotiations as the Iranian negotiators did not have the authority give a final sign-off on the wide reaching deal. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the atomic watchdog of the United Nations, all the countries involved have been given till October 23 to ratify the draft deal.

Under the agreed upon draft deal, twelve hundred kilograms of the low enriched uranium will be shipped out of Iran in order to be processed into fuel. Russian nuclear insiders allege that the uranium will first be sent to the IAEA, who will forward it to Russia for enrichment. Russia will subsequently return to enriched uranium to the IAEA who will send it to France. According to the insiders, France has the “cell elements” needed for Iran’s reactor.

This method of exporting uranium allows Iran to receive the fuel that it needs. At the same time it gives guarantees to countries, such as the United Sates, that the fuel will not be used to produce nuclear weapons.

IAEA Director Mohammed ElBaradei is confident that the agreement will help all sides move forward. He is hopeful that all sides, namely Iran, will agree to the deal negotiated in the Austrian capital. ElBaradei claims that the deal reached reflects “a balanced approach to move forwards” and that it would help normalize Iran’s relationship with the rest of the international community.

Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, claimed that Iran came to the meeting looking for cooperation. Soltanieh said that the talks were successful, but emphasized that Iran’s leaders would thoroughly look over the contents of the agreement.

The United States is urging Iran to act quickly in signing off on the agreement. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said the United States looked forward to discussing “the full range of issues that have divided Iran and the United States for too long.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Draft Deal Agreed On Iran Uranium – 22 October 2009

AP – Diplomats: Iranian Negotiators Back Uranium Deal – 21 October 2009

BBC – Iran Nuclear Fuel Deal ‘Agreed’ – 21 October 2009

Guardian – Iran Nuclear Talks Reach Draft Deal To Export Enriched Uranium – 21 October 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive