Iran talks 'disappoint' EU envoy

[Praxius]

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran talks 'disappoint' EU envoy

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has said he is disappointed after talks with Iran on its nuclear programme, as he prepares a report for the UN. But top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said the discussions were positive and more would be held. Correspondents say the talks may determine whether the US and its allies press for more sanctions on Iran. The UN has demanded Iran suspend uranium enrichment, but Tehran insists its programme is peaceful. Some Western powers fear it is seeking to make weapons. 'New ideas' The two envoys emerged after five hours of talks and spoke to the media separately, giving dramatically different interpretations of the outcome. BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Solana was looking for signs that the Iranians were prepared to suspend uranium enrichment work as demanded by the UN Security Council, but his comments after the talks suggest there has been no progress on the issue. "I am disappointed," the EU official said. "I will be in telephonic contact with the Iranians before the end of December," he added, saying the envoys would meet again if circumstances permitted. Meanwhile Mr Jalili said the two sides had agreed to continue negotiations and arrange another meeting next month. The UN had earlier commissioned two reports on Iran's nuclear programme - one from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the other from Mr Solana. Ahead of the talks, Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham did say that Mr Jalili would "present new ideas and initiatives" to Mr Solana. However, on Wednesday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Iran was "a nuclear nation", adding: "After this, no-one can threaten the Iranian nation as we have all stood united so far and [the West] did not do anything." The BBC's Pam O'Toole says there is a distinct air of pessimism around the latest talks, given that Iran has on a number of occasions announced proposals and suggested initiatives while continuing to defy the UN on uranium enrichment. Mr Solana has himself appeared frustrated that his talks with Mr Jalili have been frequently delayed. Mr Jalili, a close ally of Mr Ahmadinejad, recently replaced Ali Larijani, who resigned as chief nuclear negotiator amid reports of differences with the leadership.

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