Iran Nears Deal on Renewed Nuclear Freeze

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=10&u=/nm/20040907/ts_nm/nuclear_iran_dc

Iran Nears Deal on Renewed Nuclear Freeze
By Louis Charbonneau

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has agreed in principle to renew a freeze of some sensitive nuclear activities in a move apparently aimed at easing pressure ahead of a U.N. nuclear watchdog meeting next week, diplomats said Tuesday.

Details of the deal were not immediately clear and have yet to be finalized. However, two diplomats said it would include halting production, testing and assembly of centrifuges.

Iran pledged last year to suspend all enrichment-related activities but has since resumed building centrifuges and last week said it intended to process 37 tons of raw uranium into uranium hexafluoride, the feed material for centrifuges.

Centrifuges enrich uranium for use in power stations or -- if enriched further -- nuclear bombs. <snip>