Iran moves to enact nuclear deal
 |
The German, French and British foreign ministers brokered the deal.
Story Tools
|
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran has taken steps which could lead to the suspension of its uranium enrichment program, a move demanded by the U.N. agency charged with monitoring nuclear facilities.
"We are in the process of studying the suspension of our uranium enrichment program," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told CNN. He said media reports that Iran has already suspended the program are inaccurate.
Studying the suspension is the first step in the implementation of an agreement Iran recently reached with Britain, Germany and France to end an impasse over its nuclear program.
Last week Iran agreed to allow tougher U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
and to suspend its uranium enrichment program, though the U.S. said it wanted to see the words backed by actions.
Top Iranian official Dr. Hassan Rowhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Iran was voluntarily making the moves to "promote international goodwill, create stability, and put an end to tensions."
Rowhani made the announcement following a session last Tuesday in Iran with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
In Singapore, a spokesman for U.S. President George W. Bush said Iran's announcement was "progress," but Iran now had to back up its announcement by signing a formal protocol with the IAEA.
-- CNN's Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed to this report
