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Iran-EU talks end in 'failure'
Talks on Monday between Iran and the European Union (EU) on Tehrans nuclear programme ended without a breakthrough. Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh confirmed that Tehrans senior nuclear negotiator, Javad Vaidi, had met Robert Cooper, a top aide to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. One western diplomat described the meeting aimed at trying to find ways for Iran to answer key, outstanding questions in the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) investigation of its nuclear programme as a failure. Another western diplomat said that the scheduled talks between Vaidi and IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei had been cancelled since it was apparent that the Iranians didnt want to talk substance at this stage. Meanwhile, the UN nuclear watchdog chief on Monday told the IAEAs 35-nation board of governors that the brewing confrontation between Iran and world powers must be defused. Stressing that he remained committed to a diplomatic solution to the standoff, he said that the facts on the grounds indicated that Iran was moving to raise proliferation by significantly expanding its uranium enrichment programme while curbing cooperation with IAEA inspectors. The IAEA meeting is scheduled to continue for one week, with ElBaradei due to issue a report on the Iranian nuclear question. Posted by: Fred 2007-06-12 |
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