Excerpts from previous status reports, by subject
Removed on November 24, 2004
The European initiative
Officials from Britain, France and Germany returned to the negotiating
table with their Iranian counterparts on October 27, but once again came
up empty handed. This marked the latest in a series of inconclusive meetings
between European governments and Iran aimed at convincing Iran to suspend
its controversial uranium enrichment program in exchange for commercial
and other benefits.
At the heart of this round of talks was a new proposal drafted by the three European states that would reportedly provide Iran with enriched uranium fuel, nuclear technology and a lucrative trade agreement with Europe, in exchange for Iran’s suspension of its uranium enrichment program and the future removal of used nuclear fuel from its power reactor at Bushehr, among other things. Not surprisingly, the United States expressed deep skepticism towards this latest deal when it was presented to all G-8 members at a meeting in Washington on October 15. Iran too appeared skeptical. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman called the deal “unbalanced,” but emphasized that negotiations would continue. He also noted that the Europeans were asking for the “indefinite” suspension of enrichment, and remarked that “there is not at all any question of permanent suspension.”
Iran's parliament takes action
Iran’s parliament
unanimously passed a bill on October 31 that requires the Iranian government
to resume
uranium
enrichment. However, the bill, as it was passed, was reportedly short
on details and has set no deadline for resumption; a longer version must
still be debated
and passed by parliament before it moves on to the Guardian Council for
approval.