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Sunday, July 20, 2008
07:37 Mecca time, 04:37 GMT
 
News Europe
'No clear answer' at Iran talks

Solana, centre, said he hoped for an answer from Iran in the next few weeks [AFP]

Iran has given "no clear answer" to a package of incentives offered in exchange for suspending its nuclear programme, Javier Solana, the EU's diplomatic chief, said following talks on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Despite the positive mood before Saturday's talks in Geneva, little tangible progress had been expected after Iranian officials said they would not halt uranium enrichment. 

"It was a constructive meeting, but still we didn't get the answer to our questions," Solana said at a joint news conference with Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator.

"We hope very much we get the answer and we hope it will be done in a couple of weeks."

Jalili said Tehran would remain constructive and asked that Western powers continue with negotiations.

"Iran is calling on the Western powers to resume the dialogue," he said.

But the Iranian negotiator also confirmed that Tehran would not enter into any discussion about freezing Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which the US has said would be essential for real negotaitions to take place.

Nazanine Moshiri, Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting from Geneva, said: "There was a lot of politeness from both sides but nothing substantial."

US participation

The presence of William Burns, the number three official at the US state department, at the talks had cast the negotiations in a positive light.

His attendance marked the first time in almost 30 years that senior US and Iranian diplomats had met face-to-face and was widely seen as a major policy shift by Washington, which has not had any diplomatic relations with Iran since the Islamic Revolution.

Burns attended the Geneva talks but did not separately meet the Iranians [EPA]
"It's up to him to choose his attitude," Christina Gallach, Solana's spokeswoman, said.

But she added that his presence was a "strong signal of the US support for a negotiated solution".

Following the talks, Washington insisted that Tehran give up its nuclear ambitions.

"We hope the Iranian people understand that their leaders need to make a choice between co-operation, which would bring benefits to all, and confrontation, which can only lead to further isolation," Sean McCormack, a state department spokesman, said.

McCormack confirmed Burns did not hold separate talks with any of the Iranian delegation to the talks.

Richard Murphy, the former assistant US secretary of state, told Al Jazeera that the meeting in Geneva showed the US was ready to "bend, and not to break" its principles of "no negotiations" before Iran suspended enrichment.

"The Europeans have asked Iran to suspend enrichment for a limited period - a 'freeze for freeze' - where, at the same time, the West would suspend further sanctions at the UN".

Murphy said there was now a two-week deadline for an agreement to be reached, which required "care and patience from both sides".

Easing tensions

The talks, as well as Iranian comments playing down the chances of an attack by the US and Israel, had helped slightly to ease tensions, after they were heightened by an Iranian missile test last week.

Enrichment is considered a key issue as it can produce either fuel for nuclear power stations or the material used in the fissile core of warheads.

Iran has already defied three sets of UN sanctions demanding it cease its nuclear programme, saying it has a right to its peaceful uses under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The incentives package offered to Iran is a revised version of a 2006 offer which includes civilian nuclear co-operation as well as greater trade in aircraft, energy, technology and agriculture.

There is growing concern that Iran might try to build nuclear weapons instead, something Iran has repeatedly denied.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 15
 
sherpa
Canada
20/07/2008
you have the power
you have the power you can sway vote in the forum of public opinion. PLEASE PLEASE keep at the forefront Mr.Elbaradei will resign if they attack Iran.. PLEASE YOU GUYS there's so much at stake.. image all the Iranian culture that would be destroyed... the kids... the old folks Please please I'm begging you. You can turn the tide...please no more smoke and death Aljazeera you have the power.. Please...I'm begging you... You can do this... Please

John Andivale
United Kingdom
20/07/2008
Clear Answer - Regime Change
please please im begging you, im begging you stop talking gibberissh iranian culture...., u think that culture hasnt already been destroyed by the Iranian regime, you think there is any civil liberties in Iran,any freedom of speech freedom of expression that we so hold dear, the word freedom in iran is a myth, its as fake as that low begging you consulted yourself to, and al jazeera hasnt got the power to anything but to stir trouble, no offence to al jazeera workers, but thats the truth

James
United States
20/07/2008
Iran Talks
This is clearly another ploy by the Iranians to stall the talks concerning their dangerous program. If the talks continue to not bear fruit, Israel and the United States should send a strong message to the Iranians using military hardware stong enough to set back the nuclear program for 10 years. The Iranians must not get the bomb!

Amvet
United States
20/07/2008
Iran
Why should Iran let the US and the camp followers of the US control Iran´s energy policy? Who decided that Iran´s nuclear program is "dangerous"? The Zionists, of course. They have only a few hundred atomic weapons and the idea that Iran might get one drives them mad. We need a foreign policy controlled by Americans and made to serve American interests.

khurshid alam
Bangladesh
20/07/2008
Yet another evil plot of America
the whole idea of american entering negotiation is bogus. Bush and his gang is doing this to influence american upcomming election in favour their gang member McCain. second, Bush is also during this to recover its 'rock bottom' image that it created by invading Iraq illegally. this time Bush want to show that it is not acting unilaterally and it is a partner of international community. nonetheless, the bottom line of US strategy is to invade Iran and reshape middle east in favour of Israel

Mousa Aljamal
Palestinian Territory
20/07/2008
Iran took off
I think today's diplomat efforts to stop Iranian enrichment of uranium is meaningless for two reasons: First, because reaching such advanced stage of enrichment, if not the pick, in the case of Iran, is not easily negotiable matter. So, Iran has as enough power as the U.S on negotiation table. Second, the growing political influence of Iranian in the region which surely threatens the U.S interest in the region, is cornering the U.S options dealing with Iran.

marc
Afghanistan
21/07/2008
enrichment
I was in the u.s. army for 6 years. I spent two years in Iraq. you would think that I woulkd be against Iran's nuclear program. but the fact of the matter is, Iran is it's own country. if they want to have a nuclear program for energy then they have the right to. no other nation should have the right to tell them other wise. if a nation doesn't like it then they can just not deal with them. if iran does use it to make weapons then oh well. who are we to limit what weapons another country has?

sameen
India
22/07/2008
Stopping enrichment
Iran should stop enrichment and delay the inevitable. They are going to be bombed even after they do it- possibly at another time, under another pretext. The reasons are simple to see: 1. Take revenge for Islamic revolution which was a slap on America's face. 2. Iran is making good scientific and social progress which as a Muslim country it is not entitled to make. Please note: All the talk about the present regime not being democratic or do not give civil liberties are absurd- just excuses.

ayub
Afghanistan
20/07/2008
Iran
Mr.Sherpa.I feel for you and feel the same way,many innocent lives are going to be lost and yet another beautiful culture and people are going to be destroyed....As i have said in the past,this is a modern empire and the US or israel is going to bomb Iran anyday now.No one is listening..My prayers are with the innocent women,children and men...

California Geoman
United States
20/07/2008
Irans Talk
Iran does not must import the uranium ore to enrich. why the west impose the sancation on the supplier(s) instead of Iran? There must be something going on we do not know.

Margarita Iturriaga
Mexico
20/07/2008
no WAR!!
U.S does not want Iran to enrich itself with uranium because they want to keep economic control over Iran. Iran deserves to be economically independent. Iran is already the 4th oil producer in the world and the U.S just can't accept uranium in Iran. This is the reason why U.S wants to create an unreal story of nuclear weapons in Iran, so that the world will believe the story. STOP U.S! The U.S wants to use the same excuse as with Iraq. I think the U.S must STOP their behaviour of hypocrisy!!!

ausaf
India
21/07/2008
Whos Moral
Iran is one of culturally richest countries in the world...Its for the good of the world at large that what happened to Iraq does not happen to Iran. Ensuring this should be the responsibility of whole world. the selfish West, loaded with nuclear arsenal, has no moral right to intervene in its matters...

Jay
United States
21/07/2008
Nuclear Iran
Always remember there is a difference between US politics and the American people as there are differences in all international commmunities. Most People want peace, but most governments dont. Remember the people are innocent.

Kurt Abraham
United States
21/07/2008
Talks with Iran
In the larger picture we see the continuing decline of American Empire. Bush’s people continue their arrogance, with Israel having surreptitious influence. The US’s harmful standoff with Iran continues to have adverse influence on oil prices and on US economy. US power is slowly being drained and relatively soon will go the way of all empires—too much arrogance, too much military spending, too far extended in the world, too interfering, too neglectful of home economy. US needs Iranian culture.

Arya Nosouhian
United States
22/07/2008
operation ajax
to john andivale we would not have this problem if the united kingdom was not so greedy and asked the U.S. to overfrow Mosadegh. And britain talks about democracy in iran. They had it, and your countrymen took from them for oil. Leave Iran be and Israel has nukes they're not in jeopardy.

 
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