Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said here yesterday he would welcome US assistance in talks with European nations over his country's controversial nuclear program. "The negotiating partners are the three European nations" Germany, France and Britain, Rohani said, but "Iran would welcome it if the United States helped."Rohani, who was speaking after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, did not clarify what he meant by "help".
The three European countries are seeking to persuade Iran to abandon the nuclear fuel cycle that can be used to make atomic weapons, in return for a lucrative economic package. But the United States suspects Iran is developing a nuclear weapon and is skeptical about the progress of the talks with the Europeans. White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley said this week: "The question is how can we help. It's not just a question of the carrots and sticks discussion." Rohani was speaking the day after Iran said it opposed any US role in the talks alongside the European Union nations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said on Thursday that "if the Americans joined the talks, the best that could happen is that they would bring nothing to the negotiations and in the worst-case scenario they would sabotage everything."