Tehran offered reactors

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NEW YORK -- The world powers are prepared to provide Iran with advanced technology and possibly even nuclear research reactors if it agrees to suspend uranium enrichment under a package of incentives revealed in full for the first time yesterday.

The package, put together by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, was given to the Iranians on June 6 and some details were leaked at the time.

But the full proposal showed a broader range of economic, political and energy incentives. They include promoting Tehran's membership in the World Trade Organization, and the possible lifting of U.S. and European restrictions on the sale of civilian aircraft and telecommunications equipment to Iran.

Under the incentives, the six powers are prepared to help Iran build state-of-the-art light-water nuclear power reactors and to give legally binding guarantees that nuclear fuel will be provided for these civilian reactors meant to produce energy.

This would be done by making Iran a partner in an international facility in Russia where all Iranian uranium could be enriched, and establishing a five-year buffer stock, it said.

The six would authorize the transfer of goods "and the provision of advanced technology to make [Iran's] power reactors safe against earthquakes."

The package confirmed that a demand by the United States, France, Britain and Germany that Iran commit to a prolonged freeze on uranium enrichment was softened to require only suspension during negotiations with Tehran.

"We propose a fresh start in negotiations on a comprehensive agreement with Iran," which would be deposited with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and endorsed in a Security Council resolution, the six powers said.

To create the right conditions for negotiations, the six powers said Iran should make a commitment to address all outstanding IAEA concerns about its nuclear program. It also should "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities ... and commit to continue this during these negotiations."

Iran should resume implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows the IAEA to conduct surprise inspections of its nuclear facilities, and inspect other facilities not officially declared as nuclear sites, the six powers said.

On their side, the six would reaffirm Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, make a commitment to support the construction of new light water reactors in Iran through international partnerships, and agree to suspend discussion of Iran's nuclear program in the Security Council.

They would also "provide a substantive package of research and development cooperation, including possible provision of light-water research reactors, notably in the fields of radioisotope production, basic research and nuclear applications in medicine and agriculture."

The six powers would support a conference "to promote dialogue and cooperation on regional security issues," establish a long-term energy partnership between Iran and the European Union and other willing partners, and cooperate "in fields of high technology."

They also offered to support agricultural development, "including possible access to U.S. and European agricultural products, technology and farm equipment."