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U.S. playing negative role, says Tehran

Atul Aneja

Iran optimistic about talks with European Union

DUBAI: Iran has expressed optimism about its talks with the European Union, but has accused the United States of playing a negative role.

Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, senior official, said at a meeting of the 35-nation International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board that talks with the E.U. had been helpful "even though the U.S. poisoned the positive environment." He accused Washington of making "unfounded allegations" about Iran's nuclear programme. He pointed out that only "the continuation of dialogue and negotiations free from any kind of threat, pressure or any preconditions can pave the way" to a negotiated settlement. Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and the E.U.'s foreign policy representative Javier Solana have already held two rounds of talks in Vienna and could go in for another session soon. Mr. Soltineh's remarks came ahead of talks between Iranian and E.U. officials later on Thursday.

The five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany want Iran to suspend uranium enrichment as a precondition for a full-scale dialogue and possible incentives. E.U. diplomats earlier said that during talks between Mr. Larijani and Mr. Solana, the Iranian side had signalled some flexibility on the question of enrichment, such as embarking on a two-month freeze. However, it was not clear whether Iran would be ready to undertake a time-bound suspension before or after a full-fledged dialogue on its nuclear programme commenced.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also hinted that Iran was inclined to discuss uranium enrichment. "They [Iranians] are now saying that let's negotiate, so suspension will be on the agenda, and may be possible during the negotiations," he told reporters in New York.

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