Solana to tell Iran to come clean

Iran must decide by next Tuesday (11 July) if it is ready to discuss a deal to end the stalemate over its nuclear programme, the country's chief negotiator will be told in Brussels today (6 July).

Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, who will meet Ali Larijani for dinner, will warn the Iranian negotiator that the international community expects a response to the package of incentives delivered almost one month ago by Solana when he visited Tehran.

The package would see Iran suspend all nuclear enrichment activities in return for improved trade ties and assistance in developing civilian nuclear capabilities as well as other incentives. EU diplomats said they did not expect Iranians' full response to come during Larijani's meeting with Solana, but indicated that they expected a clear reply by 11 July.

On Wednesday (5 July) Larijani provoked anger by cancelling a meeting with senior officials from the EU, UK, France, Germany, just hours before the meeting was to take place in Brussels.

Foreign ministers from the G8 who met in Moscow last week called for Iran to give a "clear and substantive" response at that meeting, which will now be held on 11 July.

Iran had cancelled the meeting because of the scheduled appearance of Iranian opposition figure Marjam Rajavi at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

But one diplomat said officials were "surprised and perplexed" by the Iranian explanation and interpreted the move as another attempt by Tehran to delay talks.

Iran has repeatedly said it will respond to the offer in August.

But irritation is growing at Iran's perceived brinkmanship and the rhetoric that has come from the Tehran regime since the offer was delivered by Solana.

"All we have had is rhetoric, procrastination and cancelled meetings," said one diplomat.

Any further delay could scupper plans for the international community to agree what steps to take at a G8 summit in St Petersburg on 15-17 July.

On Wednesday (12 July) ministers representing the veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, will meet in Paris to discuss their position on Iran.

Diplomas say the US wants the group to prepare the groundwork for concrete decisions to be taken at the G8 summit, fearing that further delay will lessen the pressure on Tehran to suspend its nuclear activities.

If Iran responds negatively to the offer or fails to respond, the EU is likely to face the choice of supporting sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council or breaking ranks with the US.

Iran must decide by next Tuesday (11 July) if it is ready to discuss a deal to end the stalemate over its nuclear programme, the country's chief negotiator will be told in Brussels today (6 July).