2 Apr (NucNet): An outline agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme reached today after talks in Switzerland means “key parameters” of a deal have been reached including an agreement by Iran to limit its uranium enrichment capacity.
In discussions between the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany), the European Union, and Iran, it was agreed that Iran would reduce by approximately two-thirds its installed centrifuges.
A statement issued by parties to the negotiations said Iran will go from having about 19,000 installed centrifuges today to 6,104 installed under the deal, with only 5,060 of these enriching uranium for 10 years. All 6,104 centrifuges will be IR-1s, Iran’s first-generation centrifuge. Iran has agreed to not enrich uranium over 3.67 percent for at least 15 years.
The International Atomic Energy Agency will have regular access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including to Iran’s enrichment facility at Natanz and its former enrichment facility at Fordow, and including the use of the most up-to-date, modern monitoring technologies.
This will guard against diversion of those materials to any clandestine destination or plant, a US State Department statement said. “This opens the door for a long-term resolution to the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme.”
The key parameters form the foundation on which the final text of a joint comprehensive plan of action will be written between now and 30 June 2015.
Important implementation details are still subject to negotiation, and nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, the text of the agreement said.
For more than 10 years the international community has been seeking assurances from Iran that all its uranium enrichment activities are for peaceful purposes.
Iran has one commercial nuclear unit, the 915-megawatt Russia-supplied Bushehr-1, but has signed an agreement with Russia for up to eight more.
