EU-Iran talks resume

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 22/12/05

The EU and Iran will restart talks today (Wednesday 21 December) in the latest bid to end the two-year standoff over Iran's nuclear weapons programme.

Diplomats are expected to meet in Vienna for discussions which are being described as talks about talks, but which diplomats say will be important in deciding if a diplomatic solution is possible at this time.

Negotiations between the two sides broke down in August after Iran rejected an EU proposal to end its uranium enrichment activities in return for trade and other deals, despite months of painstaking diplomatic wrangling.

Iran insists it has the right to carry out enrichment under the UN's non-proliferation treaty.

But according to one European diplomat, the EU will continue to insist that Iran complies with demands for a full suspension of the nuclear fuel cycle, leaving it unclear where a breakthrough may come.

"We are going into these talks with very limited expectations," said one diplomat, adding: "They will decide if in January, February or March we move ahead with this option [of talks] or if the matter is referred to the UN Security Council."

"We will judge very carefully what the Iranians have to say...and their position on the Russian idea, which was a compromise."

Russia has proposed that Iran can have access to uranium enriched in Russia, but so far Iran has rejected the proposal, arguing it will restart enrichment activities at the facility at Natanz.

"This is a red line," said the diplomat, indicating that the US and others would seek immediate referral to the UN if Iran started work at the facility.

An Iranian spokesperson said that the Iranian delegation would be led by the deputy head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Javad Vaeedi, who is responsible for international affairs, rather than chief negotiator Ali Larijani.

The EU will be represented at the level of political directors from France, Germany and the UK and a representative from the office of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Iranian opposition supporters are today expected to hold a rally outside the Council of Ministers' building in Brussels to demand that the EU refer Iran to the UN Security Council.

The next discussion of Iranian referral is scheduled to take place at the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors meeting in March.

But diplomats say an emergency meeting has not been ruled out.