EU: Meeting on Iran nukes Oct. 1 in Geneva
UNITED NATIONS — The European Union chief negotiator said Tuesday the six countries negotiating with Iran about its nuclear program will remain firm at an upcoming meeting in Geneva that Tehran must cease uranium enrichment.
Javier Solana said foreign ministers of the six — the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — will hold preparatory talks at the United Nations on Wednesday.
“I expect that our basic two-track policy will be recognized by everybody and that they will stick to that policy,” Solana told reporters.
He was referring to the strategy adopted by top powers at the U.N. to press for new sanctions against Iran while negotiating with Tehran to come clean about its nuclear program.
Tehran has said it wants to talk about nuclear nonproliferation in a broader sense and its own nuclear program but not enrichment, which has been the sticking point.
China and Russia have generally opposed the Western push for punishing new sanctions, saying they preferred to draw Tehran into a “constructive dialogue.”
But Solana’s remarks indicate that both Russia and China may now be ready to approve a more stringent sanctions regime if Tehran does not agree to suspend enrichment.
“I am convinced the group will remain united on this policy,” he said.
The Geneva talks, slated for Oct. 1, will be the first since a 2008 session in the Swiss city foundered over Iran’s refusal to discuss enrichment.
Solana said that the “freeze for freeze” offer made to Tehran at the last meeting still stands. That refers to a moratorium on new U.N. sanctions if Tehran ends its enrichment program.
“This remains on the table. Nobody has taken that out,” he said.
The U.S., Israel and the EU fear that Iran is using the nuclear program to covertly develop nuclear weapons. But Tehran says it serves purely civilian purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium for use in nuclear power plants.
The U.S. has announced that Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns — who took part at last year’s Geneva talks as an observer — would again represent the U.S. He will be a full participant in the upcoming meeting.
President Barack Obama’s administration has threatened “crippling sanctions” if the next round of talks collapse. Washington is pressing major banks and other financial firms, as well as energy and insurance companies, to cut ties with Tehran.
Related News
Russian FM: Russian, US positions on Iran's nuclear program 'coincide'October 13th, 2009 Russian FM: Russia, US position on Iran 'coincide'MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the positions of the U.S. and Russia on Iran's nuclear program "coincide."
Lavrov says neither country has asked the other for anything in dealing with Iran and it would be silly to do so because "our positions coincide."
Lavrov spoke Tuesday during a joint news conference with U.S.
Clinton says world "will not wait indefinitely" for Iran to live up to nuclear obligationsOctober 11th, 2009 Clinton says Iran must show action on nuke programLONDON — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the world "will not wait indefinitely" for Iran to live up to its international obligations regarding its nuclear program.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard official warns Iran will 'blow up the heart of Israel' if attackedOctober 9th, 2009 Iran to 'blow up the heart of Israel' if attackedTEHRAN, Iran — Iran will "blow up the heart of Israel" if the United States or the Jewish state attacked it first, a top official with Iran's most powerful military force — the Revolutionary Guard — warned Friday. Cleric Mojtaba Zolnour, who is the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative in the Guard, said that if a U.S.
EU envoy says Iran likely to open new enrichment plant to IAEA within a few weeksOctober 1st, 2009 EU envoy: IAEA to visit nuke plant soonGENTHOD, Switzerland — A senior EU envoy says Iran has pledged to open its recently revealed uranium enrichment plant to U.N. inspectors perhaps in the next few weeks.
Six countries, Tehran to discuss Iran's nuclear programme in GenevaOctober 1st, 2009 MOSCOW - Six countries Russia, Britain, China, France, Germany and the US are meeting Iran in Geneva later Thursday for talks on Iran's nuclear programme and its second uranium enrichment facility, a report said. The delegations of the six countries will be headed by their deputy foreign ministers.
Top powers start high-stakes meeting with Iran to curb nuclear programOctober 1st, 2009 Top powers meet Iran over nuclear programGENEVA — The United States and five other world powers have begun high-stakes talks with Iran to demand a freeze of its nuclear activities. A senior U.S.
US, Iranian diplomats meet one-on-one at high level nuclear talks in GenevaOctober 1st, 2009 US, Iran meet directly at nuclear talks in GenevaGENTHOD, Switzerland — A senior U.S. official has met Iran's top atomic negotiator for face-to-face talks — the first such encounter in years of big-power attempts to persuade Tehran to freeze a program that could create nuclear weapons.
US says Iran's missile tests were preplanned, but intended to provoke the WestSeptember 30th, 2009 Gibbs says Iran tests were 'provocative'WASHINGTON — The U.S. says Iran's recent missile tests were clearly preplanned, but intended to provoke the West.
Tehran says nuclear talks with 6 nations will be a test of their respect for IranSeptember 30th, 2009 Iran: Talks with 6 nations will test their respectTEHRAN, Iran — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Thursday's nuclear talks with the U.S. and five other nations will be a "test" of their respect for Iran's rights.
Iran's 'Teeth and Claws' approach likely to backfire, say expertsSeptember 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Iran's 'Teeth and Claws' approach on the issue of missile tests and talks on nuclear proliferation are likely to backfire, as only one in ten Iranians support the existence and use of nuclear weapons. According to a Chritian Science Monitor (CSM) report, many are questioning the government's legitimacy after the June 12 presidential elections, and the Islamic republic's decision to launch its longest-range missiles in a show of force ahead of nuclear talks scheduled for Oct.
Iran's top leader says US officials know they are "wrong" on nuclear and missile threatSeptember 20th, 2009 Iran's top leader: US "wrong" on nuke threatTEHRAN,Iran — Iran's supreme leader says U.S. officials are "wrong" about his country's nuclear program and the threat Iran's missiles pose.
UN atomic watchdog begins debate about Iran's disputed nuclear programSeptember 9th, 2009 UN nuclear watchdog begins Iran debateVIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors has begun discussing Iran's disputed nuclear program. Iran insists its program is peaceful and aimed at generating electricity.
Clinton: Israel should give a chance for US policies on Iran's nuclear ambitions time to workJuly 26th, 2009 Clinton says Israel should be patient on IranWASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is implicitly urging Israel to give U.S. policy on Iran's nuclear ambitions a chance to work.
Disarmament body takes a step toward negotiations on new nuclear arms treatyMay 29th, 2009 Disarmament body steps toward nuclear talksGENEVA — The 65-nation Conference on Disarmament has taken a step toward negotiating a new nuclear arms control treaty after a dozen years of deadlock. Diplomats in Geneva welcomed the adoption of a "program of work" as a breakthrough for the conference.
Ahmadinejad says 'ready' to negotiate with USMay 29th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday reiterated that Tehran was ready to negotiate with the US but stressed that the talks should be held under "equal conditions". The Americans keep sending us messages for negotiation.
Loading ...