EU in 'last chance' nuclear talks with Iran

Negotiators were preparing for crucial European-Iranian talks today billed by six world powers as the last chance for Iran to avoid UN sanctions over its nuclear defiance.

Javier Solana, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, was to meet with senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

The talks are focusing on whether there is common ground to start negotiations between Tehran and six world powers dangling rewards if the Islamic republic gives up uranium enrichment – and punishment if it does not.

Iran’s chief delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Ashgar Soltanieh said the talks would begin this afternoon.

“Mr Larijani is in town and the meeting will take place this afternoon,” he said.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany agreed on a package of economic and political rewards in June to be offered to Tehran, but only if it stops enrichment before the start of negotiations.

But the six-nation alliance also warned of punishments, including UN sanctions, if Tehran does not halt enrichment – something Iran refused to do by an August 31 deadline set by the UN Security Council.

Yesterday, US under-secretary of State Nicholas Burns said Washington expected the Security Council to start discussing a draft on sanctions as early as next week unless Tehran does a last-minute turn and agrees to freeze enrichment, a possible pathway to nuclear arms.

Mr Burns additionally dismissed suggestions of cracks in the six-power coalition pushing Tehran to give up enrichment. He spoke in Berlin, a day after those countries ended confidential discussions on Iran in the German capital.

Outlining the US view of the timetable on Iran in the coming weeks, Burns said the six nations would consult further by phone on Monday and hoped to present a unified approach on sanctions to their foreign ministers by the time the UN General Assembly opens on Tuesday.

“It’s fair to say we have ... a lot more work to do,” he said, adding: “The American view is that following these discussions on Monday and perhaps some others early next week, we should move this to the Security Council and draft a resolution” on sanctions.