US Prepared to Give Iran Time to Consider Enrichment Proposal

A U.S. official says the United States is willing to give Iran more time to consider a key uranium enrichment deal that will yield fuel for an Iranian nuclear research reactor.

Washington's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Glyn Davies, told reporters in Vienna Monday that, in his words, "we want to give Iran some space."

Davies also noted the negotiations have gone beyond the scheduled time frame.

Iran has not officially responded to a U.N.-backed uranium-enrichment proposal that was drafted three weeks ago in Vienna. But leading Iranian parliamentarian Alaeddin Boroujerdi Saturday indicated Tehran will reject the plan to send any of its 1,200 kilograms of enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment.

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei had asked for the parties involved with the proposal (Iran, the United States, Russia and France) to respond by October 23.