Iran must tell the United Nations nuclear watchdog in writing that it will suspend its uranium enrichment programme from a specific date to help it avoid sanctions, Western diplomats said today.
"Iran needs to send a letter to the (International Atomic Energy Agency) stating that it will suspend enrichment on such-and-such a date," a Western diplomat who follows the IAEA in Vienna told reporters.
"Iran has been told that the IAEA needs this letter by tomorrow if it is going to be in the report," the diplomat said, referring to IAEA chief Dr Mohamed El Baradei's progress report on Iran inspections.
Several Vienna-based diplomats said Dr El Baradei had promised Tehran a positive report if a series of talks between France, Britain and Germany aimed at freezing Iran's controversial uranium enrichment programme went well.
The combination of a positive IAEA report and verified suspension of all activities related to uranium enrichment, a process of purifying fuel for use in nuclear power plants or weapons, would guarantee that Iran would escape a referral to the UN Security Council this month, diplomats say.
It would also give British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair a positive message to take to White House talks with re-elected President George W. Bush on Thursday and Friday.
That would strengthen Europe's hand in urging the United States to engage with Iran. Washington, which accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of an atomic energy programme, wants Tehran reported to the UN Security Council for hiding its enrichment programme for 18 years. Iran denies wanting nuclear weapons.