Progress in EU-Iran nuclear talks

Iran's nuclear negotiator and the EU's foreign policy chief said yesterday they had cleared up misunderstandings and made progress in talks on Iran's disputed nuclear programme and would meet again soon.

Their upbeat verdicts could slow Washington's push for swift UN Security Council action this month to impose sanctions on Iran over its atomic fuel work. Europe had already indicated misgivings about isolating the world's No. 4 oil supplier.

The weekend talks in Vienna, which ran seven hours, had been regarded as a last chance to explore a face-saving compromise before possible punitive action after Iran ignored an August 31 Security Council deadline to stop enriching uranium.

"The meetings... have been productive. We clarified some of the misunderstandings we had before" about Iran's 21-page reply to six world powers' offer of trade inducements to halt nuclear fuel work, the European Union's Javier Solana said.

"We have made progress and we want to continue in that line and for that purpose we are going to meet again next week. These (talks) have been worth it," he said. An EU diplomat said Dr Solana meant another meeting later this week, most likely on Thursday.

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, standing beside Solana, said: "We reached common points of view on a number of issues. And as mentioned by Dr Solana, many of the misunderstandings were removed. Our meetings will continue."

Both sides declined to elaborate on the progress made, but an EU diplomat said earlier the crucial issue of timing for a suspension of uranium enrichment was addressed at the talks.

Iran's ambassador to the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog agency, Aliasghar Soltanieh, denied a report that Mr Larijani had agreed to consider a two-month uranium enrichment suspension.

But he added: "The fact the talks will continue... is a good indication that we are on the right track."

Dr Solana had wanted to pin down Mr Larijani on hints in Tehran's meandering response to the incentives package that it could curb enrichment as part of negotiations to implement the offer.

Dr Solana consulted with foreign ministers of the six powers by phone during the talks and would brief them on the results before they hold a conference call today to discuss what to do next, EU diplomats said.

"The tone of (the talks shows) that both sides are working to be able to create the conditions for negotiations to start. The atmospherics were positive, (unlike) the July 11 meeting which we characterised as difficult," said one EU diplomat.

The six powers - the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - have publicly insisted Iran suspend its enrichment programme before negotiations to foster trust.

Washington asserts that Iran's nuclear work is a veiled bid to assemble atomic bombs rather than a quest for an alternative electricity supply as Tehran insists. UN nuclear watchdog probes have raised many questions about Iran's intentions.

Washington's EU allies share its suspicions about Iran.

But, fearing the repercussions of ostracising a strategic and economic giant in the Middle East, many in the EU prefer a face-saving compromise that might lie in getting Tehran to curb enrichment during any talks on the inducements.

Russia and China, heavy trade partners with Iran, see no immediate security threat from its nuclear work, oppose sanctions and could veto them in the Council. Both believe there is room for a diplomatic solution despite the violated deadline.