Talks on Iran Sanctions Delayed

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The New York Sun

Six key nations agreed today to delay until November a new U.N. resolution that would toughen sanctions against Iran, waiting to see if Tehran answers questions about its disputed nuclear program.

A joint statement from America, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany said they would finalize the new resolution and bring it to a vote unless reports in November from the chief U.N. nuclear official and the European Union’s foreign policy chief “show a positive outcome of their efforts.”

The U.N. nuclear chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, and Iranian officials agreed in July that Tehran would answer questions from agency experts by December on more than two decades of nuclear activity — most of it secret until revealed more than four years ago. Technical officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency returned to Tehran this week to start probing outstanding questions, some with possible weapons applications.

In the statement issued after a ministerial meeting of the six countries attended by the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, the countries welcomed the IAEA agreement with Iran.

“We call upon Iran, however, to produce tangible results rapidly and effectively by clarifying all outstanding issues and concerns on Iran’s nuclear program including topics which could have the military nuclear dimension,” the statement said.

Two U.N. resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran have failed to persuade it to suspend uranium enrichment. Tehran insists its program is aimed at producing energy for civilian use but America, its European allies, and many others fear the program’s real goal is nuclear weapons.

In a Tuesday address at the U.N. General Assembly, President Ahmadinejad of Iran said the nuclear issue is “closed” and vowed to defy any U.N. Security Council move for more sanctions.

The six powers reiterated their June 2006 offer of a package of economic and political rewards to Tehran, but only if it stops enrichment before the start of such negotiations — meant to achieve a long-term moratorium on enrichment.

In the joint statement, they asked Mr. Solana to meet with Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, “to lay the foundation for future negotiations.”


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