Iran is ready to ease tensions with the US.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Iran said it was going to "suspend" uranium enrichment activities starting November 22. The announcement was made by its chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rohani, and confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog.

Rohani also said that Iran did not want tensions to continue with the US. He added that his country was prepared to ease tensions with Washington as long as the US recognised the national security interests of the Islamic Republic and was willing to deal with it on an equal basis.

Suspension does not however mean that Iran agreed to "renounce" its nuclear programme in exchange for an accord with France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Iranian television reported that in the proposed accord Iran agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.

IAIE has so far found no signs that Iran has diverted radioactive material for military purposes. It did however find that Tehran was guilty of "numerous violations" to its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Several nuclear-related activities were shrouded in secrecy till October 2003.

• iran
• nuclear
• proliferation
• experiments
• enriched
• uranium
• atomic
• international
• relations