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UN puts Iran deal on the table UN puts Iran deal on the table
(20 minutes later)
Iran and three world powers have been handed a draft proposal by UN nuclear monitors on Iran's uranium enrichment. Iran and three world powers have been handed a draft agreement aimed at reducing international concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Tehran will have until Friday to give its approval of the deal put forward by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director Mohamed ElBaradei. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which proposed the plan after talks in Vienna, wants an answer by Friday.
The talks in Vienna, involving Iran, France, Russia and the US, had focused on Iran exporting its uranium to other countries to be enriched. Details have not been confirmed, but the plan is believed to involve Iran exporting uranium to be enriched in France and Russia.
Debate had stalled on Tuesday when Iran refused to curb enrichment. The negotiations have involved the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US.
Exporting uranium has been seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons. IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters in Vienna that he was feeling "optimistic" after the talks, which he said had been "very constructive".
The parties discussed Iran exporting its uranium for enrichmentThe parties discussed Iran exporting its uranium for enrichment
"I have circulated a draft agreement that in my judgment reflects a balanced approach to how to move forward," Mr ElBaradei told reporters in Vienna. "Everybody at the meeting was trying to help, trying to look to the future and not to the past, trying to heal the wounds that existed for many years," he said.
He gave no further details on the agreement. "I have circulated a draft agreement that in my judgment reflects a balanced approach to how to move forward."
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says the completion of the drafts will be a big confidence boost for all involved in the talks, but many details are still to be worked out. Russian nuclear industry insiders told the BBC the process proposed would involve Iran sending its uranium to the IAEA, which would forward it to Russia for enriching.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that is has the right to enrich uranium but Western states believe it is attempting to develop a nuclear weapons. The enriched uranium would then be returned to the IAEA and sent to France, which has the technology to add the "cell elements" needed for Iran's reactor, they said.
This process would enable Iran to obtain enough enriched uranium for its research reactor, but not enough to produce a weapon.
Exporting uranium has been seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons.
Confidence boost
Mr ElBaradei said there had been many technical, legal and policy issues to address in the Vienna talks, as well as "issues of confidence and trust".
"That is why it has taken us some time and that is why we need to send the agreement to capitals for final approval," he added.
"I very much hope that people see the big picture - that this agreement could pave the way for a complete normalisation of relations between Iran and the international community."
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says the completion of the draft will be a big confidence boost for all involved in the talks, but many details are still to be worked out.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium.
Western states believe it is attempting to develop a nuclear weapons programme.