EU’s Solana arrives in Iran with incentives offer

Reuters: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in Iran on Monday to offer incentives agreed by six world powers that aim to persuade Tehran to halt making nuclear fuel. TEHRAN (Reuters) – European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in Iran on Monday to offer incentives agreed by six world powers that aim to persuade Tehran to halt making nuclear fuel.

“We want to start a new relationship on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust,” Solana told reporters at the airport.

His spokeswoman said ahead of his arrival that Solana would offer the incentives in meetings in Tehran on Tuesday.

The incentives have the backing of Britain, France, Germany, the United States, China and Russia.

The aim of the offer is to defuse a nuclear standoff with the West, which believes Iran is seeking to build atomic weapons. Tehran denies the charge.

An EU diplomat in Tehran, who asked not to be identified, said Solana would hand the package of incentives to chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in a meeting on Tuesday. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said he would also meet Solana.