Iran lawmakers seek block on nuclear concessions

[November 19, 2013]  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian lawmakers questioning a possible nuclear deal with world powers are seeking to block likely concessions offered by Tehran in exchange for easing Western sanctions.

The effort is mostly symbolic on the eve of negotiations in Geneva but it shows Iran's deepening internal rifts.

It's unclear whether enough signatures can be collected for a vote in parliament, the results of which would also need the approval by the ruling clerics.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has backed the nuclear talks.

Conservative lawmaker Fatemeh Alia was quoted Tuesday by the semiofficial Mehr news agency as saying she and fellow lawmakers seek an urgent bill to stop the government from offering to suspend uranium enrichment at the highest level acknowledged by Iran and freeze work on a planned heavy water reactor.

[Associated Press]

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