No change after EU-Iran nuclear talks – Solana aide
Washington, 11 August (IranVNC)—A telephone conversation today between EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and Iran’s nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, on Tehran’s nuclear program did not result in a change in policy toward the Islamic Republic, an official in Solana’s office said.
By: IranVNC
Published: Monday, August 11, 2008
13:30GMT—9:30AM/EST
IRAN – NUCLEAR – TALKS
Washington, 11 August (IranVNC)—A telephone conversation today between EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and Iran’s nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, on Tehran’s nuclear program did not result in a change in policy toward the Islamic Republic, an official in Solana’s office said.
“There was indeed a conversation this morning between Mr. Solana and Mr. Jalili. Nothing has changed. We stick to the two-track approach. The channels of communication remain open,” Reuters quoted an official in Solana’s office as saying.
Asked to explain the “two-track approach”, he replied: “On the one side, pressure for sanctions in the United Nations Security Council, but also the offer of dialogue, for the Iranians to come to the table to discuss the package [of incentives] which has been proposed to them.”
For its part, Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, described today’s talks as “constructive,” saying: “The two sides agreed to continue negotiations in a constructive atmosphere.”
“Solana and Jalili voiced satisfaction at the constructive trend of negotiations in Geneva and the contacts afterwards,” the news agency continued.
The 5+1 group – the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Russia and China – have led diplomatic efforts to resolve the longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. The Western powers fear Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran says its program is peaceful and aimed at peaceful purposes including generating electricity.
Iran’s government spokesperson, Gholamhossein Elham, today said that Iran was willing to cooperate with the international community, but accused the U.S. of pursuing “psychological warfare” in Iran.
“Iran’s position is completely legal and rational and we are prepared for talks and extensive cooperation at the international level,” he said, adding: “We had proposed packages and commonalities but they [Americans] are seeking a psychological war in order to influence the domestic environment,” IRNA reported.
The European Union announced on Friday that it would implement additional sanctions against Tehran that would go above the latest of three United Nations Security Council resolutions imposed on Iran.
Later, a senior British official said that the United States, Britain, France and Germany were considering imposing sanctions that would go beyond existing UN resolutions.
But Iran yesterday dismissed the threats of further sanctions, saying that its stance on the nuclear issue had not changed.
Meanwhile, IRNA today reported that Javad Vaeedi, the country’s deputy nuclear negotiator, has been appointed to the position of advisor to the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
Sources: Reuters, IRNA
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