Asia-Pacific

Major world powers to discuss Iran

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-06 11:46

Major world powers will meet on Friday to decide how to tackle Iran over its nuclear programme, officials said, as the EU's top diplomat said the West should be open to further talks with Tehran.

Remarks by ministers from some of the major powers signalled uncertain resolve over Iran before the London meeting at which the United States, backed by Britain, is likely to seek a decision on preparing sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. and British officials said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would join counterparts from Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany at 5:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Friday after talks earlier in the day between senior officials.

While Washington is lobbying hard for sanctions, Russia and China have opposed this route and some European countries say diplomacy must be given longer. All six major powers are veto-wielding Security Council members apart from Germany.

Iran again urged the West on Thursday to solve the standoff through talks but repeated it would not stop uranium enrichment. Iran says the programme is only for power generation but the West suspects it wants to make a nuclear bomb.

France, while suggesting Iran was exploiting the stalemate to build up its atomic fuel programme, said "we are (still) offering our hand" for a deal. Russia said it remained opposed to sanctions despite an apparent dead end in EU-Iran talks.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the door to dialogue with the Islamic Republic should not be slammed. "I think that even if we fail now, we should maintain the doors open," he told reporters in Rome. "The time for negotiations is not infinite, but we try to do our utmost."

CRUCIAL ISSUE

After weeks of painting a picture of constructive progress, Solana had said on Wednesday that after "endless talks" Iran was still unyielding on the crucial issue -- a U.N. demand it stop enrichment to rebuild trust. The demand had an August 31 deadline.

The payoff for Iran would be negotiations to implement an offer of trade incentives not to pursue nuclear fuel production.

Seizing on Solana's remarks, the United States said the logical upshot was to resort to punitive measures.

Rice said in Baghdad on Thursday the "issue is to hear from Solana and to move -- most likely to move -- on to sanctions".

Britain's U.N. ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said he expected the Security Council to discuss Iran next week, including non-military sanctions under Article 41 of the U.N. Charter.

Many EU countries are wary of joining in on sanctions due to hefty trade stakes in Iran, reliance on Iranian oil, concern Iran might quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or fears of heightened terrorism against the West.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on Thursday Moscow remained opposed to sanctions and indicated there was still room for further diplomacy.

"I believe that until diplomatic means are exhausted, sanctions would be too radical," Lavrov told a news conference in Warsaw. "We have to do everything to persuade Iran to begin negotiations ... The issue needs to be resolved diplomatically."

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste Blazy told reporters during a visit to Spain: "We are offering our hand (to Tehran), meanwhile Iran is gaining time, so the six of us must meet to look at the consequences of Iran's attitude.

"If we are not able to progress, we will have to go back to the Security Council. But even if that is the case, the door to dialogue will continue to be open whenever Iran chooses to suspend its nuclear programmes."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic would resist pressure to halt its atomic work.

The president is not Iran's most powerful figure. Under Iran's system of clerical rule, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the last word. He has previously said Iran would not submit to pressure and would press ahead with atomic plans.

Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani suggested in talks with Solana last month Tehran could consider a temporary suspension to its uranium enrichment, EU diplomats said at the time.

A European diplomat said on Thursday Larijani did not stick with the proposal in subsequent contacts.

"Apparently someone (in Tehran's leadership) put the brakes on Larijani, so he was not allowed to offer negotiations (based on) suspension, not even a date for a further meeting, only to stay in contact," said the diplomat, asking not to be named.