AFP: The United States said Friday it hoped Iran would bow to pressure to freeze sensitive nuclear work, amid talks seen as a last chance before a possible new round of sanctions against Tehran. WASHINGTON (AFP) The United States said Friday it hoped Iran would bow to pressure to freeze sensitive nuclear work, amid talks seen as a last chance before a possible new round of sanctions against Tehran.
“Let’s hope that Iran comes to the discussions today and wants to suspend its uranium enrichment (and) reprocessing,” said White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
“That’s what we can hope for and that’s what we urge them to tell Mr Solana,” he said, referring to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
That diplomat and Iran’s top nuclear negotiator held last-ditch talks on Tehran’s nuclear plans Friday, but hopes of a breakthrough appeared slim amid a growing threat of new sanctions.
The Iranian delegation sought to put a positive spin on the talks between Solana and Tehran envoy Saeed Jalili, which came hours before a deadline for the EU official to report back to major world powers.
Johndroe said Washington was “absolutely” supportive of Solana’s efforts but sidestepped the question of whether the discussions were the last chance for Iran to avoid a new push for sanctions at the United Nations.
“Let’s let them take place and we’ll get a report from Mr Solana and hopefully it’s a positive one,” said the spokesman.
