N-deal possible this week: Iran

I believe it is even possible to reach that agreement this week, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with France 24,a major television network here,before meeting with the French foreign minister,Laurent Fabius. But I can only talk for our side, Zarif added. I cannot talk for the other side.

Iran has been on an outreach mission since the June election of Hassan Rouhani,who appears to have made getting rid of painful economic sanctions a centerpiece of his policy. The country now appears willing both to discuss the enforcement of more comprehensive controls on its nuclear programme and to answer outstanding questions from the United Nations atomic energy arm,the International Atomic Energy Agency,about its programme.

At the last Geneva meeting in mid-October,Iran announced that it had offered a framework for talks,and the approach was well received by American officials. However,the parties are still far from a deal,which would have to satisfy even Israel,which has long feared that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon secretly.

Iran has always insisted that its programme is peaceful and will be used only to generate electricity and for medical purposes. However,it has achieved the ability to enrich uranium up to 20 per cent purity,and it is then relatively easy to increase enrichment to 90 per cent,at which point it can be used to make a nuclear weapon,according to atomic experts.

State of play

Where is Irans n-programme currently?

IAEA estimates Iran has,since last February,roughly quintupled,to more than 1,000,advanced centrifuges at its main nuclear facility in Natanz,and has equipped the facility near Qum with 3,000 older-model centrifuges. It has accumulated 185.8 kg of uranium enriched to about 20 per cent purity,a short technical step away from refinement to bomb-grade material. Israel has warned that 240 kg would be enough for a bomb.

Where is the current status of talks?

For the first time,Iran and the group of six major powers seeking to curtail the Iranian programme have described the discussions as frank and detailed. Iran wants an end to economic sanctions,which is essential if President Hasan Rouhani is to succeed in fixing the economy. But critics led by Israel have warned against what they say is Tehrans record of deception.

How soon can Iran build a nuclear weapon?

Many experts agree the major challenge would be to purify enough uranium to bomb-grade level above 90 per cent undetected by IAEA. The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security has said Irans centrifuges could theoretically produce enough bomb-grade uranium to achieve breakout capacity by mid-2014.

NYT