Atmosphere in Moscow 'Not Positive', Says Iranian Delegation

[iSong6:3]

Atmosphere in Moscow 'Not Positive', Says Iranian Delegation
Iran and six world powers meet over Tehran's nuclear program in Moscow, but no breakthrough is reached.
By Elad Benari
First Publish: 6/19/2012, 5:13 AM

Iran and world powers locked horns on Monday in hours of tense talks in Moscow seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Tehran's nuclear program, but there was no breakthrough.

AFP reported that during the talks, billed as a last chance to find hope of a negotiated solution to the decade-long standoff, the West was looking for signs that Iran could show willingness to scale down the intensity of its uranium enrichment activities.

A member of the Iranian delegation gave a downbeat assessment well into the second session in the afternoon, telling AFP, “So far the atmosphere is not positive. Setting up the framework (for negotiation) is the main problem.”

The Iranian diplomat added that based on the morning's talks “it is possible” that the second day would not even be required, without elaborating.

Chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili had gone into the talks in uncompromising mood, telling Iranian state television, “These negotiations are a big test to see if the West is in favor of Iran's progress or against.”

A spokesman for the EU delegation to the talks told reporters that world powers were sticking by a previous demand for Iran to halt enriching uranium to 20 percent -- a level approaching that needed to make an atomic bomb.

The world powers are the P5+1 – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany. Jalili also held a bilateral meeting with the EU's Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton and was due to hold another with Russian envoys later, AFP reported.

The talks follow a bruising session in Baghdad in May that failed to make any noticeable progress beyond agreeing a date for more talks, an outcome that may not be acceptable to the West if repeated in Moscow.

In a hint of compromise, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that Iran is ready to suspend its controversial enrichment of uranium to 20 percent if Europe guarantees delivery of nuclear fuel for its reactors.

Ahmadinejad previously accused major world powers of looking for ways to “find excuses and to waste time” in talks.

Israeli President Shimon Peres said in an interview on CNN on Monday that “time is running out” for Iran. “You cannot provoke the world, assuming the world is made of fools only," Peres told the network. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157009

[iSong6:3]

Nuclear Talks Between Iran and World Suspended
High-level nuclear talks in Russia between Iran and six world powers have been suspended after no agreement reached.
By Elad Benari
First Publish: 6/20/2012, 2:15 AM

The EU's top foreign policy official said on Tuesday that high-level nuclear talks in Russia between Iran and six world powers have been suspended, The Associated Press reported.

The report added that experts from both sides will meet next month to see if there is enough common ground for new negotiations.

The talks were hosted by the EU's top foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, who said she will be in touch with top Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili after the July 4 experts' meeting in Istanbul to decide on when or whether to resume the talks.

Ashton spoke Tuesday after two days of talks made little progress in defusing international fears that Iran might turn its nuclear program to making weapons.

On Monday, during the first day of the talks, a member of the Iranian delegation gave a downbeat assessment well into the second session, saying, “So far the atmosphere is not positive. Setting up the framework (for negotiation) is the main problem.”

AP quoted diplomats as having said the negotiations remained deadlocked going into Tuesday, despite pleas from the presidents of the U.S. and Russia for Iran to agree to curb nuclear activities.

A top Russian official reportedly met twice with Iran's chief envoy on the sidelines of the talks Tuesday, as the host nation tried to keep negotiations on track. Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, conferred with top Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, one of the diplomats told AP.

Iran said on Tuesday the onus was on its six negotiating partners — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — to make the first move and agree to Tehran's demands. A member of the Iranian delegation told AP that if the six powers accept Iran's conditions "there will be a big progress in a short period of time.”

“But if they pursue the path they've been following, any progress in the talks will be stalled," he was quoted as having said.

The talks in Moscow followed a bruising session in Baghdad in May that failed to make any noticeable progress beyond agreeing a date for more talks.

In a hint of compromise, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that Iran is ready to suspend its controversial enrichment of uranium to 20 percent if Europe guarantees delivery of nuclear fuel for its reactors. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157041

[Hootmon]

Atmosphere in Moscow 'Not Positive', Says Iranian Delegation

I can see how you might feel that way if the neighbor kids tried to take away your newly-made pointy stick.

[RaptureReady_7]

I can see how you might feel that way if the neighbor kids tried to take away your newly-made pointy stick.

Nice!

I think Russia is helping Iran to stall the stupid UN.

[tbrian40]

Russia and China truly believe that they can bully and intimidate Israel into non-action. Forget about the West; America has nothing but an empty suit as a leader-they know this. What Iran, Russia, China don't know is that Jehovah is sparring a fight with the wicked, haughty ones and we know who the winner will be.