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 07 September 2008 02:42 BST

US envoy to meet Iranian nuclear negotiator

Wednesday, 16 Jul 2008 10:52
Senior US diplomat to attend talks with Iran's nuclear envoy this weekend
The United States' third-most senior diplomat is expected to attend talks with Iran's nuclear envoy in Geneva this weekend.

Undersecretary of state William Burns is understood to have agreed to meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Tehran's nuclear negotiator Saeed Salili.

Officials speaking on the condition of anonymity in Washington said Mr Burns would not directly negotiate with Iran but reiterate the call for Tehran to cease its uranium enrichment programme.

"This is a one-time deal," an official told the Washington Post.

The move marks a significant break in policy during the Bush administration, with the complete suspension of nuclear enrichment activities previously being a precursor to any preliminary talks between the two countries.

Washington has had no formal ties with Iran since the 1980 Islamic revolution and the storming of its embassy.

Mr Solana and Mr Salili were due to use their meeting in Switzerland on Saturday to draw up a timetable for future negotiations.

Western powers accuse Iran of using its nuclear programme to develop weapons and have offered Tehran a host of incentives and levelled financial sanctions against the country to persuade it to stop enriching uranium.

But Iran has continually rejected such calls and insisted its programme is entirely peaceful and solely for civilian energy purposes.End of story


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