The EU's three biggest powers plan to offer Iran a light-water nuclear reactor as part of a package of incentives if Tehran agrees to freeze its uranium enrichment programme, EU diplomats said today.
"The EU3 and [EU foreign policy chief Javier] Solana are planning an offer of a European light-water reactor to Iran in return for a suspension of its enrichment programme," a European Union diplomat said.
He said the political directors from the "EU3" - Britain, France and Germany - and the office of Mr Solana would discuss the proposed incentives plan with their US, Russian and Chinese counterparts in London on Friday.
The United States and EU accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy programme - an allegation Tehran vehemently denies.
Tehran has said it would not accept any EU offer that required it to give up its right to enrich uranium, a right that is guaranteed by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
EU diplomats said they would be very surprised if Iran accepted their offer, though they added that a rejection of the plan would be seen as confirmation that Tehran's nuclear programme does not solely aim at power generation for peaceful ends.