Europe proposes to give Iran reactor if Iran gives up enrichment program

[BurtWorm]

Guess where the Bushists stand.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Iran-Nuclear.html?hp&ex=1147838400&en=3718e31df0b699b7&ei=5094&partner=homepage




VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- European nations on Tuesday weighed adding a light-water reactor to a package of incentives meant to persuade Tehran to give up uranium enrichment -- or face the threat of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Senior diplomats and European Union officials said the plans were being discussed by France, Britain and Germany as part of a proposal to be presented Friday to representatives of the five permanent U.N. Security Council members. The diplomats and EU government officials spoke on anonymity because of the confidential nature of the information.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said a ''package'' was being prepared for Iran's consideration that would give Tehran a choice between intransigence and a ''pathway of cooperation.'' He declined to say whether a light-water reactor would be offered to Iran.

McCormack said Tehran would be required to halt its program of enriching and reprocessing uranium on Iranian soil. ''We and other do not want the Iranian regime to have the ability to master those critical pathways to a nuclear weapon,'' he said.

There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the reported package.