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U.S. Dismisses Iran Plan on Nuclear Crisis
(New York Times) David E. Sanger - Iranian officials have begun to describe what they call a "nine-step plan" to defuse the nuclear crisis with the West by gradually suspending the production of 20%-enriched uranium. But the plan requires so many concessions by the West, starting with the dismantling of all sanctions, that American officials have dismissed it as unworkable. Obama administration officials say the deal is intended to generate headlines, but would not guarantee that Iran cannot produce a weapon. "The way they have structured it, you can move the fuel around, and it stays inside the country," a senior Obama administration official said. "They could restart the program in a nanosecond. They don't have to answer any questions from the inspectors" about evidence that they conducted research on nuclear weapons technology, but nonetheless would insist on a statement from the agency that all issues have been resolved. "Yet we're supposed to lift sanctions that would take years to reimpose." Under the American vision, Iran would halt all production of its 20%-enriched uranium immediately, ship the existing stockpile out of the country and close the underground Fordow plant.