US Offers Short-term Nuclear Deal Allowing Iran to Continue Enriching Uranium

Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: American negotiators want a six month freeze to Iran's nuclear programme to create time for a final agreement, but the terms risk a backlash from both Israel and Congress

America has proposed a short-term nuclear agreement with Iran at a meeting in Geneva which would allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium at low levels, according to an aide briefed on the talks.

The goal is to freeze Iran’s nuclear programme for perhaps six months in order to create a breathing space for a comprehensive agreement to be negotiated.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, warned on Thursday that any deal which failed to stop Iran from enriching uranium would be a “mistake of historic proportions”.

Western diplomats and US officials have refused to disclose any details of a “first step agreement”. But a Senate aide, citing briefings from the White House, the State Department and sources in Geneva, said he understood that it would include four key points. » | Peter Foster in Washington, and David Blair | Thursday, November 07, 2013