This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7515104.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US set for historic Iran meeting | US set for historic Iran meeting |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US and Iran are gearing up for their first high-level talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. | The US and Iran are gearing up for their first high-level talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. |
| One of the state department's most senior officials, William Burns, will be joined in Geneva by envoys from the EU, China, France, Germany and Russia. | One of the state department's most senior officials, William Burns, will be joined in Geneva by envoys from the EU, China, France, Germany and Russia. |
| They are expected to discuss incentives for Iran to suspend its uranium and plutonium activities with the country's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili. | They are expected to discuss incentives for Iran to suspend its uranium and plutonium activities with the country's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili. |
| The US attendance is being seen as a major shift in policy. | The US attendance is being seen as a major shift in policy. |
| In 2002, President George W Bush famously named Iran as one of the countries that formed the "axis of evil". | In 2002, President George W Bush famously named Iran as one of the countries that formed the "axis of evil". |
| We've been very clear that any country can change course Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State US and Iran eye diplomatic opening | |
| The US has insisted that no talks would be held unless Iran suspended the production of weapons-grade material. | |
| But with just six months left of his presidency, analysts say he is taking a more pragmatic approach. | But with just six months left of his presidency, analysts say he is taking a more pragmatic approach. |
| Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice seemed to sum up the new conciliatory mood in a speech on Friday. | Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice seemed to sum up the new conciliatory mood in a speech on Friday. |
| She reiterated that Iran was "a difficult and dangerous state" before adding: "We have been very clear that any country can change course." | She reiterated that Iran was "a difficult and dangerous state" before adding: "We have been very clear that any country can change course." |
| Rising tension | Rising tension |
| Saturday's talks will aim to find out how Iran will respond to the West's offer of economic incentives for Tehran to suspend its nuclear activities. | Saturday's talks will aim to find out how Iran will respond to the West's offer of economic incentives for Tehran to suspend its nuclear activities. |
| Iran denies any nuclear weapons plans, but is defying UN Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment. | Iran denies any nuclear weapons plans, but is defying UN Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment. |
| The talks come after weeks of rising tensions in the region. | The talks come after weeks of rising tensions in the region. |
| The Iranians test-fired missiles last week, and a series of threats and counter-threats between Iran and Israel has been watched nervously in the West. | The Iranians test-fired missiles last week, and a series of threats and counter-threats between Iran and Israel has been watched nervously in the West. |
| But the talks appear to have eased some of the tensions. | But the talks appear to have eased some of the tensions. |
| Reports suggest the US may even consider opening a diplomatic mission in Tehran - which would be the first such link since the US hostage crisis nearly 30 years ago. | Reports suggest the US may even consider opening a diplomatic mission in Tehran - which would be the first such link since the US hostage crisis nearly 30 years ago. |
| Formal contact between the US and Iran is very rare, though the two countries held three rounds of talks in 2007 over security in Iraq. | Formal contact between the US and Iran is very rare, though the two countries held three rounds of talks in 2007 over security in Iraq. |