US, France, Russia pledge support for Iran nuclear deal

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Source: AFP

US President Barack Obama spoke with his Russian and French counterparts Saturday, rallying support for a deal to end the crisis over Iran's nuclear program, as they urged Tehran to accept the offer.

Obama made Saturday-morning calls to Russia's Dmitry Medvedev and France's Nicolas Sarkozy during which all three men "affirmed their full support" for a recently offered deal, the White House said.

Under the plan Russia and France would produce enriched uranium for Tehran in exchange for assurances the Islamic Republic will not seek a nuclear weapon.

The three leaders also "discussed the importance of all parties accepting the proposal so that implementation can begin as soon as possible," Washington said.



Obama calls Sarkozy, Medvedev on Iran plan
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/obama-phones-france-russia-on-iran-plan-2009-10-24

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hU45P_cGaJc9YjXHHpDrNf9VBuWg

[annabanana]

1. Russia's important, but will China weigh in?. .

That would be an offer that Iran couldn't refuse.

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2. Influential Iran lawmakers criticize nuclear deal (Reuters)

Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:24pm EDT

... Parliament speaker Ali Larijani accused Western powers of trying to "cheat" Iran.

"They insist on going in a direction that speaks of cheating. They are imposing some things on Iran," Larijani told the student news agency ISNA, echoing some officials who suggested on Friday that instead of accepting the draft, Iran should buy nuclear fuel from abroad ...

Lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi warned the Iranian authorities to be "cautious in their dealings" with world powers ...

"Any nuclear fuel deal with the West ... should come with relinquishment of sanctions on Iran, particularly a lifting of sanctions on raw uranium imports," said lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the semi-official ILNA news agency reported ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE59N14M20091024

[struggle4progress]

3. UN to inspect atomic plant as Iran delays nod on deal (AFP)

By Jay Deshmukh (AFP) – 13 hours ago

TEHRAN — UN inspectors will enter Iran's controversial second uranium enrichment plant on Sunday, two days after Tehran postponed its response to a UN deal on supplying the Islamic republic with nuclear fuel.

Media said the team will spend three days in the country as it inspects the facility being built inside a mountain near the holy city of Qom, south of the capital.

Tehran's disclosure of the new plant to the IAEA on September 21 triggered widespread global outrage, with US President Barack Obama warning Iran would face "increased pressure" if it does not come clean on its nuclear activities.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei criticised Tehran for what he said was its late disclosure of the facility's existence ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gLWkOtojZeXkeHQ4bEvi2yMpRLyw

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4. UN nuclear team arrives in Iran

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/10/200910251153319431.html

A team of UN inspectors has arrived in Iran to visit a controversial uranium enrichment plant near the town of Qom.

The four scientists were due to inspect the facility on Sunday, as Western powers waited for Iran's reply to a UN-backed proposal which could see its uranium shipped overseas for enrichment.

(snip)
Ali Larijani, Iran's parliament speaker, said on Saturday that Western powers are trying to "cheat" Iran through deal.

"They are saying we will give you the 20 per cent (enriched uranium) fuel for the Tehran reactor only if you give us your enriched uranium," he told Iran's ISNA news agency.

"I see no links between providing the fuel for the Tehran reactor and sending Iran's low enriched uranium abroad."