Iran’s Nuclear Proposals

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In the document, titled “Cooperation for Peace, Justice and Progress,” Iran reiterated many of its previous ideas for talks while scaling back specific requests made in previous proposals(PDF). Among other things, Tehran called for an end to hostilities and for talks on issues of specific concern to Iran, such as drug trafficking and security in the Middle East. Unlike previous Iranian proposals, this one does not contain a litany of past grievances with the United States and does not assert an Iranian commitment to advancing its nuclear efforts.

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White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that “the offer is still being evaluated” by the United States and its allies. “I will say Iran’s proposals have, time and again, failed to live up to its international obligations.” Iran’s offer is in response to coordinated efforts by the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.

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Parsi also said the letter’s rejection of a curb on Iranian enrichment could be seen as Iran’s opening bid in talks, not the end point.

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“They ruled out a compromise on the enrichment issue,” he said. “Who can be surprised. That is what they have been saying for two years. Just because they will not make a compromise on that issue, doesn’t mean there can’t be a compromise on the [nuclear] issue as a whole.”