Iran to accept tougher nuke checks, halt uranium enrichment

However, several diplomats said they were losing patience with Iran, which has yet to stop its enrichment activities, which Washington believes are at the heart of a secret atomic weapons program, three weeks after promising to do so.

"Next week, we will get the letter by Iran for conclusion of the Additional Protocol, which is a positive step," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters after a 90 minute meeting with the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Hassan Rohani.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Iran initially promised the letter confirming acceptance of tougher inspections weeks ago. Even though Rohani did not bring it to the meeting, ElBaradei called their talks "very fruitful."

He said Rohani promised a second letter formally announcing the "suspension of all enrichment-related activities" next week, another promise Tehran has yet to fulfill.

Asked when the uranium enrichment would be halted, Rohani declined to give a date. Speaking through an interpreter, he said only: "In the next week I will announce that."

Reporters asked ElBaradei if he agreed with Rohani's statement to reporters which said Tehran had satisfactorily answered all outstanding questions about its nuclear program.

ElBaradei said his answer would be in next week's report on Iran, but added: "We have been getting satisfactory cooperation from Iran...I hope this is something that will continue."