Annan sees shift in Tehran's view on enrichment

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 13 (Reuters) U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said he believed Iran had shifted its position and was now more open to suspending its nuclear enrichment activities as part of talks on its nuclear program.

''On Iran, there is a slight shift, in the sense that they are now saying that, 'Let's negotiate; suspension will be on the agenda and may be possible in the negotiations,' versus outright rejection,'' Annan told a news conference.

He appealed to Tehran to help dispel the uncertainty surrounding its nuclear ambitions and said he hoped the crisis over its nuclear programs could be resolved peacefully through negotiation rather than through ''artificial deadlines.'' European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has held one round of talks with Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani in an attempt to resolve the issue and planned to meet again tomorrow.

As these exploratory talks unfold, world powers have showed gaps in their views on whether to crack down on Tehran or move to more talks, although the United States has continued pushing for the U.N.

Security Council to impose sanctions after Iran failed to suspend enrichment by an August 31 deadline.

Annan said he found Middle East leaders anxious over a possible military confrontation with Iran during a recent two-week tour of the region, and he expressed hope a confrontation could be avoided.

''I don't think confrontation is in anyone's interest,'' he said, expressing hope the second round of Solana-Larijani talks would make progress after what was described as a fruitful first round.

He said there was mistrust on both sides between Tehran and the West and it was wrong to look at the impasse as a test of the patience, although Washington has argued that delay on Iran's part only gives it more time to perfect its enrichment technology.

''I don't think it's a question of how much time you have to give before you lose patience,'' Annan said. The time given to talks should be dictated by what is accomplished, he said.

''Do you do it with sanctions or do you get them to the table and negotiate,'' Annan said. ''I have said time and time again negotiation is the best way.'' Reuters LL DB2159