Nuclear Iran
September 27, 2006
"Ali Larijani is in Berlin with his delegation to meet Javier Solana," an Iranian source close to the negotiations told AFP news service ahead of the talks, which state television said would be getting under way sometime Wednesday afternoon.
The discussions have been billed as a last opportunity for Iran to agree to a suspension of sensitive uranium enrichment activities as demanded by the UN Security Council and stave off the threat of UN sanctions.
The deal offered by the five permanent council members plus Germany asks Iran to accept a package of incentives in exchange for it freezing enrichment work the West fears could be channeled into producing nuclear arms.
Iran "optimistic," minister says
"The third round of talks between Solana and Larijani was supposed to be held today in New York but due to visa problems for Mr. Larijani it will be held today in one of the European countries," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier.
"Since there is an atmosphere of understanding between Iran and Europe, we can be optimistic on the results of the meeting," Mottaki was quoted as saying by Iranian state television.
The official news agency IRNA said that Larijani could also use the occasion to meet German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The question of whether Iran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment for a limited period of time before or even during full negotiations with world powers remains key to the success of Wednesday's talks.
Suspension under debate
However there was confusion over whether Iran is considering such a step. European diplomats said Larijani made an offer at his last talks with Solana but several Iranian officials have denied any suspension is on the cards.
"Such issues will not be addressed in the next negotiations," Atomic Energy Organization deputy head Mohammad Saeedi told the Iranian student news agency ISNA on Tuesday.
But the Washington Times newspaper also reported Tuesday that Iran was close to agreeing to a secret deal that would have it suspend uranium enrichment for 90 days in order for additional talks to take place with European nations.
Diplomatic effort
The US state department spokesman meanwhile spoke of "hopeful" signs from Iran but warned sanctions were still on tap if diplomacy failed.
The repeated delays for the latest Larijani-Solana meeting -- they last met Sept. 9-10 in Vienna -- appear to reflect intense diplomatic efforts to ensure the nuclear dossier does not go to the Security Council.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meanwhile again hit out at the West for what he described as its failure to allow Iran access to peaceful nuclear technology.
Controversial policy
"Today the people will not accept that some countries have warehouses full of nuclear weapons and then tell others that you cannot have a (nuclear) fuel cycle since you may deviate," he said in a speech.
Iran's uranium enrichment is particularly controversial as it can be used to make fuel for a nuclear power station but in highly enriched form can also be employed to make the explosive core of a nuclear bomb.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful energy needs, vehemently rejecting US allegations that it is seeking to manufacture nuclear weapons.
The negotiations were given a last chance after Washington, under pressure from Europe and China, backed down on its demand for immediate sanctions against Iran for failing to meet an Aug. 31 UN deadline to freeze enrichment.
According to European diplomats, Western powers have set the start of October as a final deadline for Iran to give its definitive response to the Security Council offer.