Iran eliminates enriched uranium

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday that Iran had moved to eliminate its most sensitive stockpile of enriched uranium under an interim nuclear deal reached with six world powers last year.

The report from the UN nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had met the terms of the six-month agreement, which took effect in late January.

Under the deal, Tehran was required to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of some economic sanctions.

The agreement had been due to expire on Sunday, but it was extended for a further four months with some adjustments following talks between Iran and the six powers - the US, France, China, Russia, Germany and Britain - in Vienna on Friday.

During last week's lengthy negotiations, the group failed to meet a self-imposed deadline of July 20 for a long-term deal to end the nuclear standoff.

The six powers wanted Iran to significantly reduce its uranium enrichment program to make sure it can't produce nuclear bombs.

However, Iran said its program was for peaceful purposes only and that it wanted sanctions on its oil-dependent economy to be lifted as soon as possible.

The four-month extension reinforced the difficulties negotiators faced in settling the dispute permanently even if Iran had met its commitments under the initial agreement.

Release of frozen assets

During the extension of the agreement, Iran could receive around an additional 2.8 billion dollars in frozen assets for complying with the interim deal and for also undertaking some new measures.

However, US officials said Iran still had more than 100 billion dollars in foreign assets, which it had problems accessing due to financial sanctions imposed in recent years over its nuclear activities.

It remains unclear whether the extension of the nuclear talks until late November will result in a final settlement on wider restrictions to Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for a gradual end to sanctions.

lw/av (AP, Reuters)