Iran Reportedly Suspends Nuke Program
Iran reportedly has suspended its nuclear enrichment program for two months.
Iranian media reported Monday that the suspension is a goodwill gesture toward Western powers that are working on cutting a deal with Iran over halting its nuclear program.
Haaretz reported that the Iranian media reports have not been confirmed by other sources.
But according to Haaretz, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported recently that Iran had slowed down its nuclear centrifuges at its main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz. It is not clear what caused the slowdown.
The United States has been considering levying new sanctions against Iran, and is working to convince the other Western powers to do the same unless the Islamic Republic begins to discuss its nuclear program.
Under an agreement proposed in the fall, Iran could transfer about 75 percent of its low-enriched uranium to Russia for further enrichment, after which the uranium would be sent to France to be processed into nuclear fuel for use in an Iranian medical research reactor.
Iran has offered to deliver the uranium in stages or to make the exchange on Iranian soil. The United States has rejected both counter suggestions.
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