A report Thursday said that Western countries were considering offering Iran a new deal on processing nuclear fuel – a tougher deal than the previous one Iran rejected, that would allow Iran to ship out for processing a little more than 4,400 pounds (1,995 kilograms) of low-enriched uranium, slightly more than two thirds of the amount offered in a deal last year, but rejected by Tehran.
Offering a tougher deal was important at this point, a U.S diplomat said, in order to see whether the sanctions imposed by the west are having an effect. This will be a first sounding about whether the Iranians still think they can tough it out or are ready to negotiate," a senior American official told the New York Times, which reported the story. "We have to convince them that life will get worse, not better, if they don?t begin to move,” the official said.
Offering a tougher deal was important at this point, a U.S diplomat said, in order to see whether the sanctions imposed by the west are having an effect. This will be a first sounding about whether the Iranians still think they can tough it out or are ready to negotiate," a senior American official told the New York Times, which reported the story. "We have to convince them that life will get worse, not better, if they don?t begin to move,” the official said.