PARIS, 24 March 2005 — Iranian and EU negotiators ended a day of talks in Paris yesterday with no agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program but agreed to hold a new round in the near future, a senior Iranian official said. “There will be a further discussion within the next weeks,” Iranian negotiator Sirus Nasseri told reporters. Iran had threatened to break off the talks that had begun in December if progress was not made at yesterday’s meeting in Paris.
Nasseri said the talks had ended without reaching a final agreement. “Each side still has its own views.” He said that Iran had “clarified what our expectations are from the EU3 (Britain, France and Germany) on firm guarantees,” referring to European demands that Iran abandon uranium enrichment.
The European trio has promised Iran trade, technology and security rewards if it gives up enrichment to allay US charges that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons. The day of talks in Paris was meant to review progress so far. Western diplomats said they expected it would be inconclusive but would not scuttle the process, especially with the Iranians unable to take firm positions ahead of presidential elections in their country in June and with what is likely to be a long negotiating process still in its early stages.
The United States has softened its stance and agreed to support European countries in offering the Islamic Republic incentives if it gives up enrichment. Ali Agha Mohammadi, spokesman for the Islamic republic’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran was expecting European Union negotiators to come up with an “understanding” that would allow Iran to resume enrichment, which makes fuel for nuclear reactors but which can also form the explosive core of atom bombs.
