Iran open to talks over nukes

2005-05-13 16:24

Washington - Iran has indicated its willingness to negotiate with the European nations before deciding whether to resume its nuclear programme, said The Washington Post said on Friday, quoting US, European and Iranian diplomats.

The overture, mentioned in private by a senior Iranian diplomat, who remained anonymous, followed a letter from Britain, France and Germany warning Iran that if it broke a November 2004 agreement to freeze nuclear fuel cycle activities it would face "consequences".

The Iranian diplomat, according to the daily, said his government had responded positively to a European offer for a four-way meeting to discuss the issue, which it wanted to be held in Tehran in deference to Iranian officials who were preparing for the June 17 presidential elections.

The Washington Post said European officials had countered demanding guarantees that Iran was serious about its nuclear suspension before they send a delegation to Tehran for the four-way talks.

Uranium-conversion facility

Despite the appearance of a thaw in the nuclear standoff with Iran, diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic told the daily they were uncertain there was enough common ground for a meeting to take place.

European diplomats and US said the only way out of the escalation would be a retreat by Iran from its plans to restart a uranium-conversion facility at Isfahan.

In their warning, the Europeans made it clear Iran could face international sanctions.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday: "We certainly will support referral to the UN Security Council if Iran breaches its undertakings and obligations."

The United States, which had been pressing for a tougher stance from Europe in the nuclear standoff with Iran, said on Thursday it backed Europe's approach and urged Tehran to adhere to its international obligations.

An ultimatum to reverse course

Behind the cameras, the US daily said, US officials were mapping scenarios for a possible emergency session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna next week, should Iran inform the UN agency that it would resume its nuclear program.

If Iran takes that step, US and European officials said they would use the IAEA meeting to issue Iran an ultimatum to reverse course or find the matter in the hands of the UN security council.

Iran had voiced frustration with the pace of the negotiations, which remain deadlocked for Iran's ambition to master the full nuclear fuel cycle and European demanded that Iran abandoned such work altogether.

Tehran maintained that it needed nuclear power to meet increased energy demands from a booming population and to free up its vast oil and gas resources for export and thus earn badly-needed hard currency.

The standoff had worsened after the three EU interlocutors last month rejected an Iranian proposal to begin a phased resumption of enrichment.

- AFP