Iran Calls IAEA Draft Resolution 'Positive'

29 November 2004 -- Iran today called a draft European resolution submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "the most positive" text on the issue since the crisis over Iran's nuclear-development program started in 2003.

Hossein Mousavian, the head of the Iranian delegation to the IAEA, told state news agency IRNA that the draft resolution agreed upon last night after seven rounds of negotiations was without a doubt the most positive one sent to the IAEA so far.

Diplomats said yesterday that Iran had withdrawn its request to continue conducting research with 20 centrifuges used to enrich uranium -- a process that can produce fuel for nuclear power plants or weapons.

Mousavian said Iranian officials will continue to discuss the issue of the 20 centrifuges with officials from Britain, Germany, and France, the countries that drafted this latest resolution.

(AFP/dpa)