Nuclear talks

Volker Stanzel, political director for the German Foreign Ministry, issued a call to Iran to enter into nuclear talks before a United Nations General Assembly meeting at the end of September. Stanzel spoke on behalf of political directors from the UN Security Council's five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

The group, which has taken the lead in negotiating with Iran on the nuclear issue, met at Koenigstein near Frankfurt on Wednesday to discussed how to proceed on the Iranian nuclear issue.

A senior European official told Reuters that Stanzel's statement expressed the group's desire for a meeting, rather than a concrete expectation that one would occur. The unnamed official said that those attending the meeting in Germany hoped to bring the Iranians to the negotiating table within the next two weeks.

Stanzel's remarks came one day after Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, reportedly said Tehran was ready to begin talks.

Waiting on Iran

The European Union's foreign policy coordinator, Javier Solana, noted he has yet to receive any documents from Jalili suggesting a meeting.

"We haven't received it and I can't judge it," Solana told reporters in Cairo. "If the document is presented, we will review it and be happy to discuss it."

Western countries believe Iran is using a civilian nuclear program as a cover for developing atomic weapons. Iran has denied this.

Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a report saying that Iran continues to ignore UN Security Council demands that it stop enriching uranium and refuses to cooperate with IAEA investigators.

"I think it is not a good report for Iran," Solana said. "It shows the shortcomings of the relationship between Iran and the agency."

th/Reuters/AFP/dpa
Editor: Chuck Penfold