Arms Control Association Posts Iranian Nuclear Proposals

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2006

Press Contact: Paul Kerr, (202) 463-8270 x102

(Washington, D.C.): The independent, nonpartisan Arms Control Association has posted on its web site five Iranian proposals to resolve international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. These documents, some of which have not been published previously, provide new insights into Iran’s negotiating positions and objectives during the past three years.

“These documents describe the extent to which Iran was willing to compromise on its nuclear program,” said Paul Kerr, the Association’s nonproliferation research analyst. He added, “They also illustrate the particular issues of importance to Tehran.”

Following the 2002 exposure of clandestine Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran sent Washington a proposal the following spring aimed at reducing hostility and easing suspicions between the two governments. But, according to press reports, the Bush administration dismissed the offer, which is now available on the Association’s Web site.

Although France, Germany, and the United Kingdom persuaded Iran to suspend work on its gas-centrifuge-based uranium-enrichment program in October 2003, their subsequent diplomatic efforts foundered, partly because Tehran continued work on some aspects of the program. Iran says it wants to enrich uranium for use as fuel in nuclear power reactors, but the enrichment process can also be used to produce highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.

Negotiations with the three European countries received a boost in November 2004 when Iran agreed to implement a more stringent uranium enrichment suspension. In the talks that followed, Iran presented four proposals that not only addressed Iran’s nuclear program, but also covered other important subjects such as regional security issues, economic cooperation, and Tehran’s support for terrorist organizations. These proposals also are available on the Association’s Web site.

In August 2005, Tehran broke its suspension after rejecting a European proposal that called on Iran to cease its enrichment program in return for a range of security, technical, and economic incentives. Tehran is now considering a revised proposal, which the Europeans presented this past June. That proposal is also supported by China, Russia, and the United States.

All of the proposals discussed above, as well as other information on Iran’s nuclear program, are available at the Association’s Iran country resource page at: http://www.armscontrol.org/country/iran/.

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The Arms Control Association is an independent, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies.