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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S. is considering softening its demands that Iran gut its uranium enrichment program.
Months of negotiations between Iran, the U.S. and five other world powers have failed to substantially narrow differences over the future size and capacity of Tehran's uranium enrichment program.
Diplomats say the U.S. is considering a new proposal that would allow Tehran to keep nearly half of its uranium enrichment program intact while placing other constraints on its possible use as a path to nuclear weapons.
The U.S. fears Tehran may enrich its uranium to weapons-grade level for arm nuclear warheads. The U.S. ideally wants no more than 1,500 centrifuges left operating.
Iran insists it wants to use the technology only to make reactor fuel and for other peaceful purposes and insists it be allowed to run at least the present 9,400 machines.
The new offer would let Tehran keep up to 4,500 centrifuges.
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