Iran weighs compromise at nuclear meeting

At issue is Tehran's refusal to accept a phrase calling for the "need for full compliance with" the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

That position has delayed adoption of the agenda since the conference opened a week ago. Tehran argues the language could lead to its becoming a target at the meeting because of its refusal to heed UN Security Council demands to cease uranium enrichment and other parts of its nuclear programme that could be misused to make nuclear weapons.

"If I reduce it to a simple sentence, it's this," said a senior European diplomat. "The Iranians are blocking things."

Another delegate said that Monday "is likely a day of decision on whether to go on or go home."

Originally planned to end May 11, the meeting adjourned Friday to give the Iranian delegation time to consult with officials in Tehran on whether to accept a South African compromise proposal. That suggestion would have the conference decide whether to accept an appended statement specifying that "all provisions" of the treaty must be fully observed including the need for the United States and other nuclear weapons states to disarm.

But just an hour ahead of Monday's planned session, delegates said the Iranians still were consulting with officials in the capital on how to respond. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

With meetings like this one meant to draw up suggestions on how to tighten the Nonproliferation Treaty usually making decisions by consensus, Iran's opposition would be enough to doom the South African proposal. That, in turn, could lead to a decision to end the conference in its sixth day of deadlock.

Or it could force a highly irregular vote, further hardening the fronts and possibly dooming future yearly nonproliferation meetings leading up to the 2010 NPT Review Conference because of insistence by many delegations that consensus decisions are key.

Iran argues it is entitled to enrich under the treaty provision giving all pact members the right to develop peaceful programmes.