Iran Wants Right To Enrich Uranium Recognized As Part Of Agreement; Western Powers Wary
By Joby Warrick, Updated: Friday, November 22, 10:33 AM
GENEVA — Prospects for a historic nuclear deal with Iran appeared uncertain Friday as Iranian diplomats insisted that Western governments formally recognize the country’s right to enrich uranium.
Negotiators who emerged from a third day of marathon talks spoke of “difficult” discussions on the details of a proposal that would restrict or scale back key parts of Iran’s nuclear program. But both sides said they were determined to continue bargaining.
“Little progress,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on Twitter after a fourth meeting with Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. He called the discussions “serious.”
Another member of the Iranian team, Majid Takht Ravanchi, said the talks were “moving on a positive track,” according to Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency, and suggested that negotiations could extend to an unscheduled fourth day. Ravanchi confirmed that the dispute over Iran’s “right” to enrich had emerged as a major obstacle.
“We have declared that enrichment is our red line,” he said.
MORE...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/iran-wants-right-to-enrich-uranium-recognized-as-part-of-agreement-western-powers-wary/2013/11/22/ee7e46a8-5370-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html
