Iran 'suspending uranium program'
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MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Iran told Russia it was temporarily suspending its disputed uranium enrichment program from Monday and was giving a letter to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agreeing to sign the so-called Additional Protocol.
"Before your government I officially announce that today we are giving to the IAEA a letter agreeing with the additional protocol. From today we are temporarily suspending our process of uranium enrichment," Hassan Rohani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"They (the International Atomic Energy Agency) gave us to understand that they had no further questions that Iran had not already answered," added Rohani at his Kremlin meeting with Putin.
Putin replied: "I do not see any obstacles to cooperating with Iran in the nuclear sphere."
By signing the key additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran allows snap inspections of its nuclear sites. It would be a major step forward to solving a months-long standoff with the IAEA over its nuclear programme.
Despite U.S. accusations that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, Russia is helping Tehran build an $800 million nuclear reactor in Bushehr. Iran says its atomic programme is entirely peaceful.
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Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
