Uranium enrichment may be big stumbling block in Iran nuclear talks
November 7, 2013 -- Updated 1428 GMT (2228 HKT)
September talks included Secretary of State John Kerry, left, and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif, second from right.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- European Union spokesman: Uranium enrichment is the focus of talks with Iran
- Iranian spokesman: "Enrichment is our red line and its suspension is unacceptable"
- U.N. resolutions and sanctions in 2006 called on Iran to halt all enrichment activities
- Iran and the United States fuel optimism of rapid progress to a first-step accord
Geneva, Switzerland (CNN) -- Uranium enrichment is the key issue under discussion at this week's negotiations with Iran over the future of its controversial nuclear program, a European Union spokesman said Thursday.
But in separate comments, a top Iranian delegate was reported by Iranian-state media as saying Iran would not stop enriching uranium and described that demand -- backed by United Nations resolutions -- as a "red line."
The apparently contrasting statements underlined the complex nature of the talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, which are also nuclear-armed nations, in Geneva.
"The main issue is getting to the root of the problem, which is the enrichment issue and all things that lead from that," Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, told reporters on the sidelines of negotiations.
Moments later the Iranian state-run Fars News Agency tweeted comments from one of the lead Iranian delegates, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
"Enrichment is our red line and its suspension is unacceptable," Fars quoted Araqchi as saying.
When CNN asked Araqchi about the issue of uranium enrichment, he declined to answer.
None of the negotiating teams have publicly gone into technical details of the negotiations, preferring to leave those discussions to closed-door sessions that involve diplomatic and technical teams from United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and non-nuclear-armed Germany -- referred to as the P5+1 or EU3+3 -- and Iran.
"The talks are extremely complex and are now going into a serious phase. We want to focus on substance and hope there will be concrete progress over the next couple of days," Mann said in a press briefing.
The United States and its partners have accused Iran of diverting resources from its civilian nuclear program to try to develop a nuclear bomb. Iran has repeatedly denied those assertions and says it has no desire to build nuclear weapons.
Resolutions and sanctions passed by the United Nations in 2006 called on Iran to halt all enrichment activities and clarify that its nuclear facilities were being used for peaceful purposes only.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, in its August report estimates Iran, since declaring its nuclear program, has processed around 10 metric tons of uranium to 5% purity -- the level used for nuclear power plants.
The IAEA also estimates Iran has a stockpile of around 185 kilograms of uranium at 20% purity. Weapons experts warn that this uranium could be further refined for use in a nuclear warhead. Although the experts suggest that amount would not be enough for even a single warhead, the IAEA has warned that it believes Iran's nuclear program could have "possible military dimensions."
Ahead of the latest round of talks Wednesday night, a senior U.S. administration official said the United States would look for a "first step" agreement from Iran to "halt its nuclear program and even roll back parts."
EU spokesman Mann described the negotiating stance in broader terms.
"The goal of the EU3+3 is very clear, and that's to achieve assurances from Iran about the purely peaceful nature of the nuclear program. And we can do that if there's agreement from the Iranian side," he said.
He also underlined that the six nations have a solidly united negotiating position.
"The P5+1, or EU3+3, has remained united and will remain united. We know what the issues are. There are resolutions concerning enrichment that have to be respected. Iran must prove verifiably that it is only interested in peaceful nuclear power," he explained.
While revealing few details, the Iranians and the Americans are fueling optimism of rapid progress to a first-step agreement. The sides have agreed in principle that after cutting a first-step deal they will discuss a final agreement.
In exchange for concessions by Iran on its nuclear program, a senior U.S. administration official said the United States would give Iran some sanctions relief.
Economic analysts estimate sanctions by the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union have slashed Iran's key oil output to below 1 million barrels per day, less than half 2011 levels, and are driving inflation and unemployment inside Iran as well as hampering Tehran's ability to repatriate foreign currency earnings from its oil exports.
Since as far back as at least 1974, the U.N. Security Council has called for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. Israel is believed to be the only Middle Eastern nation with nuclear weapons, although it has never publicly declared this nor signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which came into effect in 1970.
Mann said there would be no linkage between Iran's nuclear program and that of Israel.
"We're here to talk about Iran," he said bluntly.
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