Iran may run centrifuges at fortified site

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - As nuclear talks with Iran approach a critical deadline, the United States is considering letting Tehran run hundreds of centrifuges at a once-secret, fortified underground bunker in exchange for limits on centrifuge work at other sites, officials tell The Associated Press.

The trade-off would allow Iran to run several hundred centrifuges at its Fordo facility, although they would not be allowed to enrich uranium and would be subject to inspections, the officials said. In return, Iran would be required to scale back the number of centrifuges it runs at its Natanz facility and accept other restrictions on nuclear-related work.

Instead of uranium, centrifuges at Fordo would be fed elements such as zinc, xenon or germanium for separating out isotopes for medicine and science, the officials said.