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Rice hints at talks with Iran
11/09/2006 22:49 - (SA)
Halifax - US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said on Monday the United States might be willing to join negotiations with Iran if it temporarily
suspended its nuclear programme.
"The point is, there would have to be a suspension. If there
is a suspension, we can have discussions, but there has to be a
suspension," Rice told reporters as she flew to Canada.
"As far as I know, the Iranians have not yet said that they would suspend prior to negotiations, which is what the issue
has been," she added.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and
Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani said they had made progress in
weekend talks to explore a basis for formal negotiations to end
a stalemate over Tehran's pursuit of technology that could
yield atom bombs.
Two-month enrichment freeze
An EU diplomat said Larijani offered a two-month enrichment
freeze during seven hours of discussions with Solana in Vienna
that both sides described as constructive.
Asked about the offer of a two-month freeze, Rice appeared
to leave open the door to talks.
"Suspension, verified suspension, that's the condition,"
she said. "As to time limitations... I haven't heard any
Iranian offer, so I don't know what to make of that, but the
question is: are they prepared to suspend, verifiably, so that
negotiations can begin.
"That's the issue," she said. Sought sanctions
Rice's comments appeared to mark a softening of the US
position. Previously, the United States said it still aimed to seek UN sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to end
its uranium enrichment programme.
The West believes Iran is secretly trying to build nuclear
bombs and has condemned its defiance of an August 31 security
council deadline to stop enriching uranium.
Iran says it wants to produce only low-grade enriched fuel for power plants.
- Reuters
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