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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| UN nuclear talks with Iran fail to end deadlock | |
| 2013-05-18 | |
With Iran focused on a presidential election next month, expectations had been low for the meeting between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been trying for more than a year to reopen an inquiry into ‘possible military dimensions’ of Teheran’s nuclear work. ‘We had intensive discussions today but did not finalise the structured approach document that has been under negotiation for a year and a half now,’ IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said after the eight-hour meeting, referring to a long-sought framework deal for the investigation. ‘Our commitment to continue dialogue is unwavering. However, we must recognise that our best efforts have not been successful so far. So we will continue to try and complete this process.’ No date was set for future talks. Iran’s envoy, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said both sides had put forward proposals during ‘intensive technical discussions’ and the aim was to bridge the differences in future talks. Iran denies it has any aims to develop nuclear weapons. The United States, which accuses Teheran of using stalling tactics at the IAEA talks and parallel negotiations with world powers, said it expected the nuclear agency to eventually urge the UN Security Council, which has imposed several sanctions resolutions on Iran, to take more action. ‘At some point, the director general of the IAEA will have to return to the Security Council and say: ‘I can go no further. There has been no response. You have to take further action,’’ Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told lawmakers in Washington. That could happen in June or in September, she said. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |