Iran: World powers strike deal, but details under wrap

Major world powers struck what a senior US official called a ‘‘substantial agreement’’ on Thursday on a package of incentives for Iran to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work as well as penalties if it did not. Earlier, Iran rejected a US condition for direct talks on its nuclear programme.

The major powers’ deal was reached at a meeting of foreign ministers from the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China—all permanent members of the UN Security Council—as well as Germany and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Officials at the Vienna meeting said no details would be issued before the package was presented to Iran, which has said its programme to enrich uranium—a key ingredient in civilian nuclear power plants and atomic bombs— was non-negotiable.

US President George W Bush warned Iran that if it refused to stop enrichment, then case would go to the UN Security Council. The White House urged Tehran to take several days to examine the US policy shift.

Mark Heinrich