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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US set for historic Iran meeting | US set for historic Iran meeting |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| A senior United States official is due to take part for the first time in international talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. | A senior United States official is due to take part for the first time in international talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. |
| The official, William Burns, is joining envoys from the EU and permanent members of the UN security council. | The official, William Burns, is joining envoys from the EU and permanent members of the UN security council. |
| They are expected to discuss with the country's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment. | They are expected to discuss with the country's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment. |
| Mr Burns' attendance is being seen as a major shift in US policy. | Mr Burns' attendance is being seen as a major shift in US policy. |
| Since 2002, when President George W Bush famously named Iran as one of the countries that formed the "axis of evil", his administration had insisted that no face-to-face talks would be held unless Iran suspended the enrichment of uranium, which it says could be used to produce nuclear weapons. | Since 2002, when President George W Bush famously named Iran as one of the countries that formed the "axis of evil", his administration had insisted that no face-to-face talks would be held unless Iran suspended the enrichment of uranium, which it says could be used to produce nuclear weapons. |
| Iran says its nuclear activities are only for civilian purposes. | Iran says its nuclear activities are only for civilian purposes. |
| Conciliatory move | Conciliatory move |
| US officials say Mr Burns' presence will be a "one-time event" and that he is in Geneva not to negotiate but to listen. | US officials say Mr Burns' presence will be a "one-time event" and that he is in Geneva not to negotiate but to listen. |
| We've been very clear that any country can change course Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State US and Iran eye diplomatic opening | We've been very clear that any country can change course Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State US and Iran eye diplomatic opening |
| With just six months left of his presidency, analysts say Mr Bush is taking a more pragmatic approach. | With just six months left of his presidency, analysts say Mr Bush 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 BBC's Jon Leyne is Tehran says no big announcements are expected in Geneva. | The BBC's Jon Leyne is Tehran says no big announcements are expected in Geneva. |
| The most the Iranians are considering agreeing to at the moment is a freeze of their nuclear programme, our correspondent adds. | The most the Iranians are considering agreeing to at the moment is a freeze of their nuclear programme, our correspondent adds. |
| 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. |
| Recent reports have suggested 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. | Recent reports have suggested 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. |