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U.S., 5 powers accept Iran’s offer for more talks

The U.S. and five partner countries have accepted Iran's new offer to hold talks, even though Iran insists it will not negotiate over its disputed nuclear program, the State Department said Friday.
Mideast Iran Nuclear
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, left, presents Iran's package of proposals for new talks with the West to British official Patrick Davies as German Ambassador Herbert Honsowitz stands at rear in a gathering in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday.Vahid Salemi / AP
/ Source: The Associated Press

The United States and five partner countries have accepted Iran's new offer to hold talks, even though Iran insists it will not negotiate over its disputed nuclear program, the State Department said Friday.

Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters that although Iran's proposal for international talks — presented to the six nations Wednesday — was disappointing for sidestepping the nuclear issue, it represented a chance to begin a direct dialogue.

"We are seeking a meeting now based on the Iranian paper to see what Iran is prepared to do," Crowley said. "And then, as the president has said, you know, if Iran responds to our interest in a meeting, we'll see when that can occur. We hope that will occur as soon as possible."

Such a meeting could lessen immediate pressure on President Barack Obama to abandon his diplomatic outreach to Tehran, which has yet to yield concrete results. Obama said in July that Iran should show a willingness to negotiate limits on its nuclear program by September or face consequences.

Crowley stressed that the U.S. and its negotiating partners agree they must keep pressure on Iran while also seeking talks.

"Now we are willing to meet with Iran. We hope to meet with Iran," Crowley said. "We want to see serious engagement on the nuclear issue, in particular."

He added, "We are willing to address any other issues that they want to bring to the table. But, clearly, if Iran refuses to negotiate seriously, we — the United States and the international community and the Security Council — can draw conclusions from that. And then based on that, we'll make some judgments in the future."

Proposal sidestepped West's wishes
In its proposal, Iran ignored a demand by the six world powers — the U.S., Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany — for a freeze of its uranium enrichment, which is suspected of leading to production of a nuclear weapon. Iran insists that its nuclear work is strictly for peaceful nonmilitary purposes.

Iran pronounced itself ready to "embark on comprehensive, all-encompassing and constructive negotiations."

On Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country will neither halt uranium enrichment nor negotiate over its nuclear rights but is ready to sit and talk with world powers over "global challenges."

Crowley said Iran's lack of interest in addressing its nuclear program is not a reason to refuse to talk.

"If we have talks, we will plan to bring up the nuclear issue," he said.

"So we are seeking a meeting because ultimately the only way that we feel we're going to be able to resolve these issues is to have a meeting," Crowley added. "But it's not just a meeting for meeting's sake; it is a meeting to be able to see if Iran is willing to engage us seriously on these issues."

The decision to take up Iran's offer was communicated publicly Friday in Brussels, Belgium, by Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief who is an intermediary for the six powers. They represent the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany.

Arranging earliest possible meeting
"We are all committed to meaningful negotiations with Iran to resolve the international community's concerns about their nuclear program," Solana said in a brief written statement. He said his office was in contact with Iranian officials to arrange a meeting "at the earliest possible opportunity."

Crowley said there is no assumption that new talks with Iran will be productive. But the proposal made Wednesday by the Iranian government indicated at least a new willingness to engage diplomatically, he said.

"There's language in the letter that simply says the government of Iran is willing to enter into dialogue," the spokesman said. "We are going to test that proposition, OK? And if Iran is willing to enter into serious negotiations, then they will find a willing participant in the United States and the other (partner) countries.

"If Iran dissembles in the future, as it has in the past, then we will draw conclusions from that," he said.

Crowley said the administration will, between now and December, assess where it's diplomatic approach stands. Iran's willingness to deal with the nuclear issues in the proposed new talks will be part of that assessment, he said.

Trita Parsi, founder of the National Iranian American Council, said in a phone interview Friday prior to Solana's announcement that he hoped the Obama administration would accept Iran's offer.

"The Iranian proposal is an opening bid," Parsi said, even if it contains no offer of compromise on the nuclear issue.

The Obama administration has expressed interest in discussing numerous other issues with Iran, including cooperation in stabilizing two Iranian neighbors — Afghanistan and Iraq — as well as alleged Iranian support for terrorist groups.

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