Prague , Czech Republic , President Obama admitted as much when he said , `` We will support Iran 's right to peaceful nuclear energy with rigorous inspections . '' The International Atomic Energy Agency , the U.N. nuclear watchdog , has long argued to allow Iran to maintain a small face-saving nuclear enrichment program under the guise of `` research and development . '' Allowing such a program under the Non-Proliferation Treaty , at least while negotiations continue , would involve strict IAEA inspections -- something which may give the international community the kind of insight into Iran 's nuclear program which it has long sought . It would also give Iran the cover to come back to the table without claiming it never gave in to the West . Rather , Tehran can boast the international community came around to its point of view . Preventing Iranian enrichment may be an ultimate pipe dream , but officials hope the right package of incentives , coupled with the threat of tougher sanctions , which could cripple its stumbling economy , could deter Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb . If adopted , the new strategy will undoubtedly be condemned
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One of the main stumbling blocks to talk with Iran has been the condition that Iran suspends its uranium enrichment . Now , the Obama administration may take that option off the table , at least for now . This is from an Iranian nuclear plant in the central province of Isfahan on April 9 . The United States and its European allies , which have just invited Iran to a fresh round of nuclear talks , are coming to the realization that if Iran 's nuclear program is n't quite at the point of no return , it will be soon . With 5,500 centrifuges , roughly enough for about two weapons worth of uranium a year , Iran is n't going to just shut down its enrichment facility as a goodwill gesture . For years , Iran has been willing to endure sanctions and economic isolation . What it has n't been willing to do is suspend enrichment . Iran maintains enriching uranium for nuclear energy is its right . Now the West seems to have come around to Iran 's way of thinking . Last week during a speech on proliferation in