Iran suspends uranium enrichment
Iran has announced the suspension of its controversial uranium enrichment programme.
Tehran has also agreed to additional inspections of its nuclear facilities.
“I officially announce that we are giving the International Atomic Energy Agency a letter agreeing with the additional protocol today,” said Hasan Rowhani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
“From today, we are temporarily suspending our process of uranium enrichment.”
The protocol appended to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty would allow IAEA officials to perform inspections and extend their investigation of Iranian nuclear activities.
The announcement marks the end of weeks of careful negotiations with Iranian authorities over its enriched uranium programme.
Tehran said it had enriched uranium only to non-weapons levels, as part of purely peaceful nuclear programmes meant to produce power as its oil stocks decline.
However, the United States accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and has pressed for the IAEA to declare Iran in violation of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
The announcement was made before Mr Rowhani met Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
Washington has urged Moscow to freeze its £478 million ($800 million) deal to help build Iran’s first nuclear power reactor.
The Kremlin has admitted that it shares some of the US concerns and has urged Tehran to comply with the international nuclear watchdog.
Enriched uranium fuels nuclear power plants, but it can also be used to make arms.
