Aid deal emerges on Iran

The US is expected to make a huge policy shift and join Europe in offering Iran economic incentives to abandon its nuclear ambitions. In return, Britain, France and Germany have agreed to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council if Tehran fails to give up its suspected nuclear weapons program -- a move that could mean sanctions.

Aid deal emerges on Iran
12mar05

WASHINGTON -- The US is expected to make a huge policy shift and join Europe in offering Iran economic incentives to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

In return, Britain, France and Germany have agreed to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council if Tehran fails to give up its suspected nuclear weapons program -- a move that could mean sanctions.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said American and European views on dealing with Iran's nuclear program were converging.

The development came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said nuclear terrorism was a real risk.

At a terrorism conference in Madrid, Spain, yesterday, Mr Annan called for a world treaty on terrorism that would outlaw deliberate attacks on civilians and establish a framework for a collective response to the global threat.

"Nuclear terrorism is still often treated as science fiction. I wish it were," he said.

Under the US/European plan, the US is expected to let Iran to join the World Trade Organisation and to buy spare parts for US-built planes.

The Europeans would pledge that if their negotiations with Iran collapse or if Tehran reneges on a promise to suspend nuclear enrichment activities, they will bring the issue to the UN.

Pakistan said for the first time that a disgraced Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan at the centre of a nuclear black market gave Iran centrifuges which could be used to make atomic weapons.

Tehran says its enrichment program would make low-grade fuel for power plants.

~ Reuters/AAP
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12515484%255E663,00.html