EU, Iran end nuclear talks; no deal reached

Berlin, Sep 28: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he had failed to reach any deal with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator at talks on Tehran's nuclear ambitions today, but had laid the ground for further discussions.

''We have been progressing,'' Solana told reporters after discussions with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

''We still have some issues that have not been closed,'' he said without elaborating. Solana said he hoped to renew contact with the Iranians in the middle of next week.

In June the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China offered Tehran a package of economic and political incentives if it suspended uranium enrichment, which the West believes is part of a nuclear weapons programme.

Tehran says its uranium enrichment activities are aimed solely at generating electricity and has refused to halt them. It was not immediately clear if Iran's position had changed after the meeting.

The Washington Times reported earlier this week that Iran was close to a deal that would include a temporary, 90-day suspension of uranium enrichment and clear the way for negotiations on the details of the package.

Iran dismissed this report as propaganda.

But French officials said Larijani had offered to consider a temporary suspension at a meeting with Solana two weeks ago.

If Iran does not suspend enrichment, the United States and the ''EU3'' have agreed to ask the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on the Islamic republic. China and Russia oppose sanctions and would prefer to reopen negotiations with Iran.

Reuters

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