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/7515589.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iran 'silent' over nuclear deal | Iran 'silent' over nuclear deal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Iran has given "no clear answer" to a Western-backed proposal to suspend its controversial nuclear activities, says EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. | |
| Mr Solana said the two sides would resume talks in two weeks' time, when he hoped for a decision from Tehran. | Mr Solana said the two sides would resume talks in two weeks' time, when he hoped for a decision from Tehran. |
| He was speaking after talks in Geneva with top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and representatives from the EU and UN Security Council. | |
| In a shift of policy, a US official also joined the talks. | |
| Diplomats had hoped that Iran would respond to a so-called "freeze-for-freeze" offer, under which a freeze of Iran's uranium enrichment programme at its current levels would be matched by a Western pledge not to strengthen sanctions on Tehran. | |
| "It was a constructive meeting, but still we didn't get the answer to our questions," Mr Solana told reporters. | "It was a constructive meeting, but still we didn't get the answer to our questions," Mr Solana told reporters. |
| "We hope very much we get the answer and we hope it will be done in a couple of weeks," he said. | "We hope very much we get the answer and we hope it will be done in a couple of weeks," he said. |
| Mr Solana said he had agreed with Mr Jalili to speak again either by telephone or personally in two weeks. | Mr Solana said he had agreed with Mr Jalili to speak again either by telephone or personally in two weeks. |
| In reply, Mr Jalili said he had put forward many positive ideas and he urged Western powers not turn away from negotiations. | |
| "This package we have proposed contains a number of possibilities. In a nutshell, it is a new opportunity which should not be lost." | |
| But doubt was cast over the value of the talks, after a member of the Iranian delegation said there was "no chance" of a freeze on the uranium enrichment programme. | |
| Rising tensions | |
| In addition to the EU, Iranian and US envoys, the talks in Geneva's city hall were attended by representatives from Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia. | In addition to the EU, Iranian and US envoys, the talks in Geneva's city hall were attended by representatives from Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia. |
| US Under-Secretary of State William Burns did not speak publicly. | US Under-Secretary of State William Burns did not speak publicly. |
| The US and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the taking of hostages at the US embassy in Tehran. | The US and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the taking of hostages at the US embassy in Tehran. |
| Formal contact between the two countries has been extremely limited, though last year they met at ambassadorial level to discuss security in Iraq. | Formal contact between the two countries has been extremely limited, though last year they met at ambassadorial level to discuss security in Iraq. |
| The meeting 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. |