EU, Iran make little progress on nuclear program

EU, Iran make little progress on nuclear program

"Sometimes we are not able to move the process as we like, but in any case the atmosphere continues to be very positive," said the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. His comment appeared to be tacit acknowledgment that Iran had refused to give way on international demands that it suspend enrichment or face further UN Security Council sanctions.

Both he and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the main focus of their four and a half hour talks had been "outstanding issues with the IAEA" - a reference to calls by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Tehran clear up long-term questions about the Islamic republic's nuclear program.

An official familiar with the talks who refused to be identified because of their confidentiality suggested that Larijani meant that the two men had decided to shift to less controversial ground because of lack of agreement on how to tackle the issue of enrichment suspension.

Larijani spoke of "some useful ideas that both sides introduced," and he mentioned "common ground" without going into detail. Solana said he and Larijani had had "an exchange of ideas on how to move the process" forward, and spoke of a "good atmosphere."

Amelia Gentleman of the International Herald Tribune reported from New Delhi:

Talks intended to restart negotiations on a landmark nuclear pact between India and the United States began in New Delhi on Thursday amid continuing disagreement over India's right to test nuclear weapons and process spent fuel.

Hailed as historic when it was announced almost two years ago, the nuclear deal was seen as symbolic of a new strategic partnership between India and the United States. But negotiations over the details have made slow progress as both countries shy away from making politically sensitive concessions.

R. Nicholas Burns, U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs, arrived in Delhi on Thursday and went directly into a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon to try to find a compromise before an expected meeting between President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Group of 8 summit meeting in Germany next week.