WORLD / Middle East
Iran wants to resume EU talks
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-30 23:04
Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday that Tehran is ready to restart
negotiations with the European Union on its nuclear program, but he ruled
out direct talks with the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, center, smiles as he leaving
the meeting hall after he is greeted by his Malaysia's counterpart Syed
Hamid Albar, left, following the closing ceremony of the Ministerial
Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in
Putrajaya, Malaysia, Tuesday, May 30, 2006. [AP]
"I announce that Iran is ready to respond positively to the call" made by
the Nonaligned Movement "for resuming the negotiations on Iran's nuclear
issue without any preconditions," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
told reporters.
"Accordingly, I would announce our readiness to restart immediately the
negotiations with the EU Three to resolve the issues," he said, referring
to Britain, France and Germany.
The announcement raised hopes that Iran would react positively to a
planned package of incentives meant to convince it to abandon uranium
enrichment. The package has been put together by the five permanent
members of the
U.N. Security Council plus Germany.
The package was to be presented to Tehran by France, Britain and Germany
�� the nations that broke off talks with Iran in August 2005 after it
resumed activities linked to uranium enrichment.
The Security Council gave Iran until the end of April to suspend all such
activities. But Iran announced last month it had for the first time
successfully enriched uranium and was doing research on advanced
centrifuges to produce more of the material in less time.
If Iran remains defiant and refuses to give up uranium enrichment, it
could open the way for sanctions.
Mottaki said there was no question of direct talks with the United
States, which accuses Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a
cover to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran has denied this, saying its
nuclear program is merely to generate electricity.
"Because of the bad temperament of the Americans, for the time being we
have suspended direct talks (with the U.S). After changing of the
behavior we may consider again," said Mottaki, who was in Malaysia to
attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Nonaligned Movement, which
ended Tuesday.
A meeting of the European foreign ministers, including Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, was set for Thursday in Vienna, said the diplomats, who
spoke on condition of anonymity because they were disclosing confidential
information.
Indirectly linked to any possible deal for Iran would be agreement on a
resolution tough enough for Washington but acceptable to Tehran ally
Moscow, a dispute that has hobbled action by the Security Council's
permanent members for months.
If Iran remains defiant, the proposal �� as outlined to AP by diplomats
familiar with the text �� calls for a resolution imposing sanctions under
Chapter 7, Article 41 of the U.N. Charter. But it avoids any reference to
Article 42, which is the trigger for possible military action to enforce
any such resolution.
The proposal also calls for new consultations among the five permanent
Security Council members on any further steps against Iran �� a move
meant to dispel complaints by the Russians and Chinese that once the
screws on Iran are tightened, the council would automatically move toward
military involvement.
Among the possible sanctions are a visa ban on government officials, the
freezing of assets, blocking financial transactions by government figures
and those involved in the country's nuclear program, an arms embargo and
a blockade on the shipping of refined oil products to Iran.
If Tehran agrees to suspend enrichment, enter new negotiations on its
nuclear program and lift a ban on intrusive inspections by the
International Atomic Energy Agency, rewards would include agreement to
"suspend discussion of Iran's file at the Security Council," as well as
help in building a peaceful domestic nuclear program that uses an outside
supply of enriched uranium.
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