Reuters: Foreign ministers from major powers are likely to meet late next week in Europe to complete work on a package of incentives and disincentives aimed at resolving the Iran nuclear crisis, the State Department said on Thursday. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Foreign ministers from major powers are likely to meet late next week in Europe to complete work on a package of incentives and disincentives aimed at resolving the Iran nuclear crisis, the State Department said on Thursday.
Spokesman Sean McCormack said details had not been nailed down but the meeting would “likely be in Europe and likely be at the end of next week.” He said there was a “new spirit” shown when senior officials held talks on Wednesday in London.
Senior officials from U.N. Security Council permanent members China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain, plus Germany met to try to narrow divisions over how to induce Tehran to halt sensitive uranium enrichment work.
The United States and some of its Western allies suspect that Iran’s nuclear program is a cover-up for efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says the program is only for peaceful energy production and insists on its right to a full range of nuclear technology.
“We had a productive meeting … concerning Iran’s nuclear programs,” Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, the chief U.S. negotiator, said in a written comment issued by the department.
“The U.S. is encouraged by the progress we have made, and we look forward to Secretary (of State Condoleezza) Rice and her ministerial colleagues meeting shortly to make final decisions on the way forward,” he said.
