11/16/2004
November 16, 2004
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department
has called Iran's promise to freeze all activity related to nuclear
enrichment useful but said the suspension had to be verified.
In his first formal comment on the agreement
between Iran and Britain, Germany, France and the European Union, State
Department spokesman sounded a note of optimism on Tuesday along with
Washington's typical scepticism about Iranian promises.
"This is a useful step," Boucher told reporters.
"It's better to have somebody agree to something than not agree to
something. But it doesn't really make a difference until it's
implemented and verified, and that's what counts."
The United States accuses Iran of seeking to
develop nuclear weapons and wants the matter to be addressed by the
U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Tehran says its
nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity.
Under the deal unveiled on Monday, Tehran agreed to
freeze all activity related to enrichment, including making equipment
and processing materials, from November 22 in return for talks on
peaceful nuclear cooperation and resumed trade and aid talks.
Uranium enrichment is a process that produces fuel which can be used for power generation or atomic bombs.
The deal is likely to undercut support for the U.S.
push to have Iran's case reported to the Security Council at the
International Atomic Energy Agency's November 25 board meeting.
A senior State Department official who spoke on
condition he not be named told reporters there may be little backing
for this if the IAEA says the agreement is being carried out.
