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Iran Seen Needing Big Steps for Final Deal

(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon and Laurence Norman - Iran would have to reduce to 4,000 the total number of centrifuges it is operating from a current capacity of nearly 20,000 and take other drastic measures to forge a comprehensive nuclear agreement with the West, according to a report by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) in Washington that drew from conversations with senior U.S. officials. In addition, Iran would have to shut down an underground uranium-enrichment site, convert a heavy water reactor and agree to a 20-year inspections regime. While the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Monday that Tehran had begun scaling back major nuclear activities, the steps are a long way from what a final agreement will require, based on the ISIS report. David Albright, who heads the think tank, is a former UN weapons inspector. He said the report is based on a formula that would ensure Iran would need six months to a year to build a nuclear weapon if it decided to break off its cooperation with the West. Senior U.S. officials have said in recent weeks that rolling back the Arak heavy water reactor and the scope of Iran's uranium-enrichment capabilities are critical to reaching a final deal.
2014-01-24 00:00:00
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