U.S. official to attend Iran talks
A top U.S. official is to attend talks aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.
Wednesday, 16.07.2008.
10:37
A top U.S. official is to attend talks aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program. Under Secretary of State William Burns will travel to Switzerland with the EU foreign envoy Javier Solana to receive Iran's response to a UN offer. U.S. official to attend Iran talks The U.S. said Mr Burns would not hold separate talks with Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, and was there to listen. A BBC correspondent says this is a first under the Bush administration and represents a significant policy shift. Iran denies any nuclear weapons plans, but is defying UN Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment. In the past, the Bush administration has insisted that no talks will be held with Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment program, says the BBC in Washington. Now, in a clear shift in policy, it seems a meeting is going to take place without that precondition being met, our correspondent says. The Bush administration says Burns's presence is designed to demonstrate the West's unity and to reiterate that the terms of negotiations remain the same - namely that Iran must first halt its uranium enrichment program for further talks to take place. How significant the move is will become clearer after the talks in Geneva on Saturday, our correspondent adds. 'One-time participation' A state department official told the BBC that Burns - the third-most senior United States diplomat - would "reiterate that our terms of negotiation remain the same - that Iran must suspend its enrichment and reprocessing". He went on: "This will be a one-time participation by Ambassador Burns." The U.S. is among six world powers which have offered Iran negotiations on a package of incentives, including direct contact and dialogue, if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment, a process the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons. But it has not previously sent U.S. diplomats to sit down face-to-face with Iranian negotiators to discuss the issue. The purpose of the talks is to find out how Iran will respond to the West's offer of economic incentives if Tehran suspends its uranium enrichment program. The package brought to Tehran by Solana last month includes a series of proposals designed to help Iran develop a civilian nuclear program. The meeting comes at a time of increased tension between Iran and the U.S., particularly following Iranian missile tests last week that prompted the U.S. to warn that it would defend its interests and its allies in the region. Formal contacts between the U.S. and Iran are very rare. The two nations have not had diplomatic relations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the taking of hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
U.S. official to attend Iran talks
The U.S. said Mr Burns would not hold separate talks with Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, and was there to listen.A BBC correspondent says this is a first under the Bush administration and represents a significant policy shift.
Iran denies any nuclear weapons plans, but is defying UN Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment.
In the past, the Bush administration has insisted that no talks will be held with Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment program, says the BBC in Washington.
Now, in a clear shift in policy, it seems a meeting is going to take place without that precondition being met, our correspondent says.
The Bush administration says Burns's presence is designed to demonstrate the West's unity and to reiterate that the terms of negotiations remain the same - namely that Iran must first halt its uranium enrichment program for further talks to take place.
How significant the move is will become clearer after the talks in Geneva on Saturday, our correspondent adds.
'One-time participation'
A state department official told the BBC that Burns - the third-most senior United States diplomat - would "reiterate that our terms of negotiation remain the same - that Iran must suspend its enrichment and reprocessing".He went on: "This will be a one-time participation by Ambassador Burns."
The U.S. is among six world powers which have offered Iran negotiations on a package of incentives, including direct contact and dialogue, if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment, a process the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons.
But it has not previously sent U.S. diplomats to sit down face-to-face with Iranian negotiators to discuss the issue.
The purpose of the talks is to find out how Iran will respond to the West's offer of economic incentives if Tehran suspends its uranium enrichment program.
The package brought to Tehran by Solana last month includes a series of proposals designed to help Iran develop a civilian nuclear program.
The meeting comes at a time of increased tension between Iran and the U.S., particularly following Iranian missile tests last week that prompted the U.S. to warn that it would defend its interests and its allies in the region.
Formal contacts between the U.S. and Iran are very rare. The two nations have not had diplomatic relations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the taking of hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
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