Friday, November 22, 2013

Iran talks: Enrichment a sticking point

 

 

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Iran talks: Enrichment a sticking point
11/22/2013 1:48:21 PM

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Friday is the final scheduled day of nuclear talks with Iran
  • Disagreement remains over Iran's right to enrich uranium
  • Talks may extend into the weekend

(CNN) -- As talks on Iran's nuclear program enter what was scheduled as a final day of negotiations Friday, the country's right to enrich uranium remains a sticking point, diplomats directly involved in the talks said.

The current talks involve delegations from Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain and France -- plus Germany in what is known as the P5+1. Israel is also participating in the talks.

A main point of disagreement is that Iran wants the explicit right to enrich uranium in the initial deal, diplomats told CNN. The Western powers, on the other hand, prefer ambiguity on that point. They don't want that point written into the agreement, but if Iran states its right to enrich uranium, the West won't dispute it, the diplomats said.

Despite the impasse, the talks have continued, and may even stretch past their final scheduled day and into Saturday.

As of Friday morning, the talks had involved only Iran and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, who is leading the talks. All members of the P5+1 were expected to finally get around the same table later in the day.

While the Western powers work toward an agreement that would ultimately roll back a suspected Iranian march toward a nuclear weapon, Tehran is looking for concessions to the economic sanctions that are strangling its economy.

READ: Kerry says now the 'best chance ... in a decade' for Iran nuclear deal

READ: Iran nuclear talks: 11 things you need to know

 

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