Rice sees no breakthrough in latest EU-Iran talks

Washington, June 27: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today there was no breakthrough in the European Union's weekend talks with Iran about its nuclear programme.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said his talks with Iran's lead nuclear negotiator in Lisbon on Saturday had been constructive and that they might meet again in about three weeks.

''I don't really have anything to report. There were certainly no breakthroughs,'' Rice told reporters as she flew home after a 48-hour visit to Paris, where she met Solana at a conference on Darfur.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons under the cover of its civilian nuclear programme.

Iran denies this, saying it wants nuclear power so it can export more of its valuable oil and gas.

Solana is trying to persuade Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium, a process that can produce fuel for power plants or nuclear weapons, and to enter into broad talks with the West.

Iran has so far refused, defying two UN Security Council demanding suspend enrichment.

The United States has pursued a two-track strategy toward Iran, encouraging the EU talks while leading the charge for a fresh UN resolution to punish Iran for its defiance.

''It's just a matter of continuing to pursue these two courses at the same time,'' Rice said. ''Nothing suggests that anything has changed in that regard.''

Reuters>