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Iran seeks framework for nuclear dialogue

— Photo: AFP

Breaking new ground? Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili (left) at the meeting with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and U.S. Under-Secretary of State William Burn (right), on Saturday in Geneva.

DUBAI: Iran and the five permanent members of the Security Council have held talks in Geneva to find common ground to defuse tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme.

For the first time, a high ranking U.S. State Department official, William Burns, is also participating in face-to-face talks with the Iranians. Germany is also part of the talks that are led by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Saeed Jalili, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, is heading the Iranian delegation. The talks are being held in the historic Town Hall in Geneva.

Despite Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki describing talks as a “positive” development, the two sides appear to have followed a divergent approach towards the dialogue. Mr. Mottaki hoped the talks would lead to the emergence of a process, which would yield results. He said a framework for negotiations could follow the dialogue. Mr. Mottaki observed later in Ankara that the Geneva meeting could be followed with similar interaction so that “mutual agreement” was achieved. The Iranians also stated that they did not wish to discuss the nuclear issue in isolation. Iran’s Press TV said Iran had handed over a “package” to a number of international organisations and countries that aims to resolve “a variety of political, economic and nuclear issues.” Mr. Solana handed over to Mr. Mottaki on June 14, a bunch of incentives that would flow to Iran if it suspended enrichment.

The TV station quoting Iranian officials said the “commonalities of the two packages” would be their focus during the dialogue. Iran’s interlocutors have highlighted in their public remarks that they were seeking the suspension of uranium enrichment from Iran to achieve progress. However, an Iranian representative to the talks, Kevyan Imani, was quoted as saying suspension of enrichment is ruled out.

“Suspension … there is no chance for that,” he told reporters gathered in the courtyard of the Geneva City Hall. Mr. Imani also signalled that the “freeze for freeze” proposal, involving a six week halt in advancing sanctions if Iran did not carry out additional enrichment for a similar period was also not on the Iranian priority list.

The talks were “not about freeze-freeze”, he observed, adding that from an Iranian standpoint, “the common points of both packages” was the focus.

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