US to confront Iran over N-weapons claims
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (AFP): The US will confront Iran with accusations it is developing nuclear weapons in crunch talks next month between Tehran and six world powers which are set to be held in Turkey, officials said Tuesday.
The announcement that long-awaited talks will take place from October 1 was greeted as a welcome first step by United States officials but a White House spokesman made clear there will be no holds barred in the discussions.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana meanwhile said the talks would "very likely" take place in Turkey, a country seen as having good relations with both the West and the government in Tehran.
Tehran has consistenly denied its uranium enrichment activities are part of an attempt to manufacture weapons and are merely for energy needs. It has said it would be prepared to field questions about the atomic programme but will not trade away its rights to nuclear energy.
"I don't know what's on their agenda, but I know what's on our agenda and I know what's on the agenda for countries around the world that are concerned about Iran's illicit nuclear weapons programme," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday.
"It will be part of that discussion, and if Iran is unwilling to discuss their illicit nuclear weapons programme, I think all that does is strengthen the hand of the international community in underscoring the obligations, again, that the Iranians are failing to live up to.
"So I think this will be an interesting moment and we'll see if it's something that-if it's something they don't want to talk about, I think that will speak volumes around the world."
The agreement for the talks to begin at the start of next month was sealed Monday in a phone call between Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, days after Tehran submitted new proposals.
Six countries-Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States-will take part in the talks with the Iranian delegation.
The announcement that long-awaited talks will take place from October 1 was greeted as a welcome first step by United States officials but a White House spokesman made clear there will be no holds barred in the discussions.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana meanwhile said the talks would "very likely" take place in Turkey, a country seen as having good relations with both the West and the government in Tehran.
Tehran has consistenly denied its uranium enrichment activities are part of an attempt to manufacture weapons and are merely for energy needs. It has said it would be prepared to field questions about the atomic programme but will not trade away its rights to nuclear energy.
"I don't know what's on their agenda, but I know what's on our agenda and I know what's on the agenda for countries around the world that are concerned about Iran's illicit nuclear weapons programme," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday.
"It will be part of that discussion, and if Iran is unwilling to discuss their illicit nuclear weapons programme, I think all that does is strengthen the hand of the international community in underscoring the obligations, again, that the Iranians are failing to live up to.
"So I think this will be an interesting moment and we'll see if it's something that-if it's something they don't want to talk about, I think that will speak volumes around the world."
The agreement for the talks to begin at the start of next month was sealed Monday in a phone call between Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, days after Tehran submitted new proposals.
Six countries-Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States-will take part in the talks with the Iranian delegation.