Iran Says it Met Deadline on Nuclear Work

TEHRAN,
Iran - Iran has suspended uranium enrichment and all related
activities, state-run radio reported Monday, honoring an agreement with
Europe designed to head off possible U.N. sanctions.

“To build confidence and in line with implementing
the Paris Agreement, Iran suspended uranium enrichment (and related
activities) as of today,” said the brief radio announcement.

In Vienna, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said the suspension appeared confirmed.

“I think pretty much everything has come to a
halt,” Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, told reporters.

ElBaradei said he expected to have a definitive
ruling by Thursday on whether Iran has honored its pledge — made
earlier this month — to freeze activities that can be used in energy
programs — but also to make nuclear weapons.

The United States accuses Iran of secretly pursuing
nuclear weapons and has pushed the international community to take a
hard line.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said last week that
Washington has intelligence indicating Iran is trying to fit missiles
to carry nuclear weapons.

While not prohibited from enrichment under the
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Iran has been under intense pressure
to agree to at least a freeze — if not to scrap its program — as a way
of reducing international suspicions.

Iran, which insists its program is peaceful, has
said the suspension will be brief, voluntary, and contingent on what
Europe does next. Iranian hard-liners have accused the government of
sacrificing Iran’s rights by agreeing to suspend enrichment.

Under the agreement, reached through negotiations
held in Paris with Britain, France and Germany, a working committee
would be formed within weeks to define what economic, technological,
security and nuclear cooperation Europe will provide. It will report
within three months.

Iran portrays the agreement as European support for what it sees as its right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.

Iran radio said Monday the suspension included reprocessing uranium and building centrifuges used to enrich uranium.

In Belgium on Monday, EU foreign ministers urged
Iran to confirm its suspension at an IAEA board meeting in Vienna on
Thursday. The board was to focus on closing an examination of nearly
two decades of covert nuclear activities in Iran.

“We reached an agreement two and a half weeks ago,”
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said. “What we are looking forward
to is a translation of that text into an agreement. I hope very much
Iran to come fully into compliance.”

Straw said that if Iran reneges on the deal the EU “reserves the right” to take Iran to the United Nations.

Only after Thursday’s IAEA meeting is the EU
expected to move to resume negotiations for a trade and political
cooperation agreement, officials said. Such a deal would likely include
help to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program.