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Iranians hope for compromise deal New Iran-EU nuclear talks planned
(about 6 hours later)
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, says there is a new idea on the table at his meeting with the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. Iranian and international negotiators are to hold new talks in two weeks to continue efforts to break the deadlock over Iran's disputed nuclear programme.
The two are holding talks in Ankara aimed at breaking the deadlock over Iran's nuclear programme and moving towards formal negotiations. The move came as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana described talks in Ankara as "constructive".
It is their first meeting since the UN imposed sanctions on Iran in March for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. It was their first meeting since the UN imposed sanctions on Iran in March for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
Iran denies US and EU accusations that it is trying to build nuclear weapons.Iran denies US and EU accusations that it is trying to build nuclear weapons.
Tehran insists its enrichment programme is meant to produce civilian nuclear power.Tehran insists its enrichment programme is meant to produce civilian nuclear power.
'Constructive attitude' 'Constructive' talks
There is much speculation in the Turkish capital that Javier Solana has brought a compromise proposal to these talks - a formula that might allow the two sides to progress to formal negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. After more than five hours locked in discussion, Javier Solana called the process so far constructive.
When he arrived in Ankara, Ali Larijani seemed to confirm that. Ali Larijani said they had had some good exchanges and described the talks as pleasant. The last hour or so was spent talking one to one over an Indian meal.
He called the West's insistence that Iran must abandon all uranium enrichment as a precondition for any direct talks "irrational", and said he had come to Ankara because he had heard a new idea would be proposed. The aim of the talks is to agree conditions for formal negotiations
Javier Solana, who represents the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany at these talks, did not confirm that. The men's aim is to find a formula to move to formal negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.
Instead, he said he came with a constructive attitude and had always placed sensible proposals on the table. Iran refuses to suspend its uranium enrichment activities. The international community says it is a vital condition ahead of any direct talks.
Diplomats suggest, though, that might mean allowing Iran only partial or temporary suspension of its uranium enrichment programme in order to jump start the talks. Iran's chief negotiator called that demand irrational but he did say there are ideas on the table.
If the two sides fail to agree, Iran faces a fresh deadline from the UN at the end of next month to suspend its disputed nuclear activities. Javier Solana confirmed that the discussion would continue on Thursday, and said he hoped in coming weeks too. But there was no detail from either side to indicate from where a possible compromise might come.
The penalty could be another round of sanctions from the Security Council. Diplomats have been hinting that it might lie in allowing Tehran a partial or temporary freeze on uranium enrichment rather than full suspension.
Javier Solana's spokeswoman though stressed that his position on that remains unchanged.
If these talks fail to break the deadlock, Iran faces a further UN deadline to suspend its nuclear activities in less than a month or face a third round of sanctions.
Tehran has defied all punishment so far, arguing that its nuclear programme is intended to produce power for electricity, not create the raw material for nuclear bombs.