US offers direct talks with Iran
The US says it is ready to join direct multilateral talks with Iran on its nuclear programme if Tehran suspends disputed nuclear activities.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US would join EU nations in talks if Iran suspended uranium enrichment and reprocessing work.
President Bush said he believed the issue could be solved diplomatically.
The Iranian state news agency dismissed the offer as a "propaganda move", in the first official reaction from Iran.
EU countries and the UN nuclear watchdog welcomed the offer, which is seen as a significant US policy shift.
Washington broke off diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979 and the two sides have had little official contact since.
Proposal
Ms Rice said "as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table".
The move was to show US commitment to a diplomatic solution and "to enhance the prospects for success", she said in a statement.
Ms Rice also urged Iran to "thoroughly consider" a package currently being agreed by the US and EU nations aimed at persuading Tehran to abandon its nuclear plans.
She is set to meet the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany in Vienna to discuss the package.
I believe this problem can be solved diplomatically and I'm going to give it every effort to do so
Ms Rice recognised Iran's right to a civilian nuclear programme, but condemned what she called Iran's support for terror.
When asked about the possibility of pursuing a military option against Iran, she said Mr Bush "was not going to take any of his options off the table".
Speaking to journalists after Ms Rice's statement, Mr Bush said America was ready to take a leadership role on the issue.
Correspondents say the US move emphasises diplomacy rather than confrontation.
Analysts believe that in one bold move Washington has regained the diplomatic advantage, with the onus now on the Iranians to respond.
'Added weight'
In Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Mohammed ElBaradei welcomed the US move.
It was also backed by the EU foreign policy chief and talks participants France, Germany and the UK.
Iran's first nuclear reactor in Bushehr
There has been no official reaction from Iran
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he hoped the "way will be open to a political solution" after the talks in Vienna, while the Chinese envoy to the UN praised Washington's offer, but urged the US not to attach conditions, the AFP news agency reported.
But the Iranian state-run news agency IRNA said Ms Rice's comments could be considered a propaganda move "given the insistence by Iranian authorities on continuing uranium enrichment".
An Iranian security official who did not want to be named called it a good opportunity for Iran.
He indicated Tehran might consider suspending its enrichment work for a limited time period during negotiations, but he ruled out an unlimited suspension of enrichment.
Iran says its nuclear programme is aimed at energy production. But the US and Western allies suspect Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon.
Not a second too late. This is as I see it the best thing that could happen right now (in the Iran nuclear row that is). Hopefully it will help too
May-31-2006 23:12
NYCTrancefan
Destination Everywhere!
Registered: Jul 2003
Location: New York City in a Café del Mar mood
Reading the Have Your Say on the bbc website in regards to the story many are claiming its a hoax by the U.S. to invade Iran, etc. I agree with you however better they talk with conditions than have a war with no conditions. I however believe that Europe has to step up their game on this issue if any tangible result is to be achieved as far as meeting Iran's needs of "nuclear energy" Iran is counting on Russia and China to make life difficult at the UN and they will do so, producing either watered down sanctions that have no strength or no action at all that affects iran.
Call me out there but I say let Iran have its nukes as long as they keep it in Iran, that is of course the issue I guess, will they do so ultimately. The U.S. is in no position of strength, their motives are distrusted, their policy seems lacking ideas and Bush will be out before this issue is resolved. With a president however who says whether rhetorically or not Israel should be wiped off the map and the Holocaust is questionable I understand Isreals' concerns about such a man having nukes.
I welcome the multilateral approach because I want to see how the other nations of the world will deal with this issue, because the U.S. can do no right at this time in their eyes. Iran so far has rejected all European proposals to guarantee nuclear technology but not weaponry. You tell me where this leaves the issue.
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May-31-2006 23:29
Q5echo
asymetrical scepticism
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Dallas
Re: US offers direct talks with Iran
quote:
Originally posted by St_Andrew
Hopefully it will help too
that's nice but Iran will just use this to embarass my country someway, somehow. in some ways it's a game to them. the attention, the spotlight, the stage given to them to do just that, b/c they know the game is in their favor. for now.
Jun-01-2006 00:04
Marc Summers
I must behave
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: New York, USA
We need henry clay, the great compromiser to be brought back to life, if we want this situation to be resolved.
And why don't we make ourselves good examples, and destroy some of our nukes?
Jun-01-2006 00:23
hardcore trancer
Mystic Mind
Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto,Canada
Re: Re: US offers direct talks with Iran
quote:
Originally posted by Q5echo
that's nice but Iran will just use this to embarass my country someway, somehow. in some ways it's a game to them. the attention, the spotlight, the stage given to them to do just that, b/c they know the game is in their favor. for now.
oh please your country is the master of all political games and you know it.
Originally posted by hardcore trancer
oh please your country is the master of all political games and you know it.
dude, don't type. seriously.
Jun-01-2006 08:35
St_Andrew
I <3 NYC
Registered: May 2003
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Re: US offers direct talks with Iran
quote:
Originally posted by Q5echo
that's nice but Iran will just use this to embarass my country someway, somehow. in some ways it's a game to them. the attention, the spotlight, the stage given to them to do just that, b/c they know the game is in their favor. for now.
Your country would look more stupid if you didn't try this path though. The Iran situation is in no way a win win situation.
Jun-01-2006 11:48
Fir3start3r
Armin Acolyte
Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
quote:
Originally posted by hardcore trancer
... and they hate your freedom.
You got 1/2 right...
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...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."
Jun-01-2006 12:38
Q5echo
asymetrical scepticism
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Dallas
Re: Re: Re: US offers direct talks with Iran
quote:
Originally posted by St_Andrew
Your country would look more stupid if you didn't try this path though. The Iran situation is in no way a win win situation.
oh this is about appearances now? how stupid does the EU3 look after 3 yrs. of nothing but their dick in their hand? pretty stupid if this was about how one looks, but it's not. at least not to people who are serious about dealing with Iran.
nothing has really changed when and if the US comes to the table. either they stop enrichment and embrace tranceparency like a fat kid loves cake or they don't, and we go from there. the conditions that have been set by my country already have a pre-determined set of outcomes given whatever Iran's rhetoric is on a daily basis.
Jun-01-2006 12:57
metalgearsolid
I am a sexist
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: For you neo/
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Summers
And why don't we make ourselves good examples, and destroy some of our nukes?
Because when Judgement day comes we want to blow the world into oblivion 20 times over.
Jun-01-2006 13:16
St_Andrew
I <3 NYC
Registered: May 2003
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Re: Re: Re: US offers direct talks with Iran
quote:
Originally posted by Q5echo
oh this is about appearances now?
Hey, you were the one who started the whole thing
Clearly appearances doesn't matter.
quote:
how stupid does the EU3 look after 3 yrs. of nothing but their dick in their hand? pretty stupid if this was about how one looks, but it's not. at least not to people who are serious about dealing with Iran.
If you want to seriously deal with Iran you should also speak to them not just continue empty rethoric from both sides.
quote:
nothing has really changed when and if the US comes to the table. either they stop enrichment and embrace tranceparency like a fat kid loves cake or they don't, and we go from there. the conditions that have been set by my country already have a pre-determined set of outcomes given whatever Iran's rhetoric is on a daily basis.
Well, the EU3 has the same goals as the US pretty much. So why not cooperate in talking to them and trying to convince them of the right thing?
US offers direct talks with Iran
