Reuters: The government said on Tuesday that major world powers would not be drawn into talks about talks as they await Iran’s response to their offer of incentives to defuse a standoff over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.
LONDON (Reuters) – The government said on Tuesday that major world powers would not be drawn into talks about talks as they await Iran’s response to their offer of incentives to defuse a standoff over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.
A package of incentives to encourage Iran to give up uranium enrichment was hammered out by U.N Security Council permanent members France, the United States, Russia, China and Britain plus Germany, and presented to Iran earlier this month.
The United States and Britain want an answer within weeks not months. But last week Iran said it would respond by Aug 22, prompting fears that the Islamic Republic is playing for time.
“What I think there would be some concern about … if we appeared that we were entering into a period of negotiation about negotiations,” Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett told parliament.
She said the offer was clear that negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme could only resume if Tehran resumed its suspension of enrichment.
Beckett also said Tehran had indicated, both in public and private, that it saw ambiguities in the proposals.
“We are keen to ensure that any ambiguities are resolved,” she said.
“We have been and continue to press the Iranian government for a further meeting to take place between (EU foreign policy chief) Javier Solana and (Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali) Larijani and I hope such a meeting will take place in the near future.”
If Iran rejects the package it could face U.N. Security Council sanctions.
The United States and some of its Western allies suspect Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear bomb.
Iran, the world’s fourth biggest oil exporter, argues it needs atomic technology to meet booming power demand in civilian plants.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight industrialised nations will discuss Iran at a meeting in Russia on Thursday.
