NEWS: Preliminary Pact Reached on Iran Nukes, page 1

A preliminary agreement has been reached between European nations and Iran regarding the latter�s nuclear program. Both sides are eager to avoid a showdown in the United nations Security Council, but officials have cautioned that both sides have yet to approve the deal.

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TEHRAN, Iran - Iran and European nations reached a preliminary agreement about Iran's nuclear program at talks hoped to avoid a U.N. showdown, but all countries involved still must approve it, Iran's chief negotiator said Sunday.

If approved, the deal could be a major breakthrough following months of threats and negotiations and could spare Iran from being referred to the U.N. Security Council, where the United States has warned it would seek economic sanctions.

The preliminary agreement worked out with Britain, France and Germany could be finalized in the next few days, chief Iranian negotiator Hossein Mousavian told state-run Iranian television from Paris, where talks wrapped up Saturday.

"We had 22 hours of negotiations ... They were very difficult and complicated negotiations but we reached a preliminary agreement at the expert level," Mousavian said. "It contains the basic viewpoints of the two sides. The four countries are to take this to their capitals (for final approval)."

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The plan between Britain, France and Germany, and Iran could be finished in a matter of days according to an Iranian official. No details were provided about the agreements. However, last month the European countries had proposed a package of trade deals and a light water reactor if Iran would suspend its enrichment activities.

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