EU3-Iran talks end without agreement: Ministers

Vienna, March 03: Talks between the European Union's top powers and Iran days before a UN atomic watchdog board meeting ended today (Mar 03, 2006) without agreement, ministers said.

After the high-level meeting between France, Britain, Germany and Iran in Vienna, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters the Iranians had offered no new ideas on how to allay fears Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons.

"Unfortunately we were not able to reach agreement today", Steinmeier told a news conference.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Iran was told it must return to a full suspension of activities linked to uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for power plants or atomic bombs, to win fresh negotiations on trade incentives.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation board of governors will convene on Monday to weigh a report by the IAEA chief saying essentially that Iran has ignored a Feb. 4 call to reimpose a suspension of enrichment work to regain world trust.

"We made clear to them that to regain trust they must return to a full suspension of research and development. This is the key to any restoration of confidence", Douste-Blazy said.

"We regret that Iran was not able to respond to our conditions without further ado", he said.

The Vienna-based board reported Iran to the Council but on the condition the top world body on war and peace issues would not flex its muscle at least until after next week's session.

Reuters