Iran bows to Europe over nuclear crisis

Iran has agreed to more intrusive nuclear checks and to freeze its uranium enrichment programme in an important concession to the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany.

Jack Straw, Dominique de Villepin and Joschka Fischer persuaded Iran's hardline clerics to sign a protocol opening its nuclear programme to the outside world. The agreement means Iran has averted the threat of action by the United Nations, which was seen as a possibility if it failed to prove by the end of this month that it is not trying to build nuclear weapons.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the foreign ministers said the immediate situation could be resolved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board.

The White House, which has accused Iran of developing a secret nuclear weapons programme, said the move could be a "positive step". Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, said: "What's most important is that Iran fully comply and now implement what they've committed to." The IAEA also said the decision was encouraging.

But Iran left itself the option of resuming uranium enrichment at any time. Hassan Rohani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, said: "We believe that stopping enriching uranium is totally unacceptable and we think nobody agrees with that in Iran." In return for its concessions, Iran is expected to gain access to European civilian nuclear technology. Although the statement said Iran would find access to technology easier after it complied with an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which processes would be made available was not known.

But there is speculation that uranium could be enriched under international supervision. Fuel security is a key issue for Iran, which has been working to arrange a supply agreement with Russia.

The deal has been presented as a way of allowing Iran to sign the protocol without surrendering its sovereignty. In the past, Tehran has expressed fears that hostile powers could use the new system of checks to discover its military secrets.

"The protocol should not threaten our national security, national interests and national pride," said Dr Rohani.

Dr Rohani's key role in the negotiations shows that the decision to comply with the UN comes from the top of Iran's hardline élite. The three EU ministers later met President Mohammad Khatami and Kamal Kharrazi, the Foreign Affairs Minister.

The three European countries have been publicly pressing Iran to agree to UN demands while privately negotiating a way out of the deadlock. Their success is seen in Iran as a victory for Europe's critical engagement over the more aggressive stance employed by America. M. De Villepin said: "It is an important day for Europe because we are dealing here with a major issue. We are talking about proliferation, which as everyone knows, is a huge challenge to the world community."

The IAEA will expect Iran to provide answers to all its questions on nuclear facilities by 31 October. Mr Rohani also said Iran has been complying with the additional protocol in practice for the past month and would continue to comply. The protocol would be ratified by the Iranian parliament.

Mr Straw said: "The proof of the value of today will depend not just on the words in the communiqué ... but above all on the implementation of what has been agreed."

Not all Iranians are happy to see the crisis defused. Small numbers of students representing right-wing Islamic groups demonstrated outside the Foreign Ministry Conference Hall where the meeting was held yesterday. They may reflect the isolationist instincts of Iran's clerical leadership but on yesterday's evidence a more pragmatic approach carried the day.