 Iran 'ready to discuss fuel swap' in nuclear talksTehran (AFP) Oct 18, 2010 - Iran said Monday it is ready to discuss the issue of exchanging atomic fuel in upcoming talks with world powers about its overall nuclear programme, ISNA news agency reported. "We are ready to hold simultaneous talks with the 5+1 and the Vienna group about the fuel swap," ISNA quoted Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi as saying. Iran and the 5+1 -- the permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- are to hold talks on Tehran's overall nuclear programme on November 15-18. The talks, which have been deadlocked since October 2009, are aimed at addressing Western suspicions Iran is masking a weapons drive under what the Islamic republic says is a purely civilian atomic programme. Iran is engaged in separate negotiations with the Vienna group comprising France, Russia, the United States and the UN atomic watchdog over the issue of procuring nuclear fuel for a Tehran-based research reactor. Those talks have also been blocked since the middle of last October after the two groups failed to reach an agreement over the initial proposal brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The UN watchdog's proposal envisaged Iran sending 1,200 kilogrammes of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for conversion into the fuel rods required for the Tehran reactor. In May, Iran responded by its own counter-proposal brokered by Turkey and Brazil, which was cold-shouldered by the West which later backed new UN sanctions against Iran on June 9. Iran has in the past favoured holding talks over the fuel swap separately and not during negotiations on its overall nuclear programme. |
Washington (AFP) Oct 18, 2010 The United States and Israel on Monday listed Iran's nuclear ambitions as a top concern, as they held another round of talks in their twice-yearly strategic dialogue. US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon held the talks in Washington about common strategic concerns, including Iran and the Arab-Israeli peace process.
"While today's strategic dialogue covered many subjects, it is clear that Iran is among the greatest challenges we face today in the Middle East," the two said in a joint statement.
"Iran's continued noncompliance with its international obligations related to its nuclear program, as well as its continued support for terrorist entities, are of grave concern to our two countries and the entire international community," the statement said.
"Continued efforts by the international community to address Iran's actions through both pressure and engagement are critical to changing Iran's strategic calculus and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability."
The United States spearheaded international efforts to impose a fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions in June, sanctions it says are aimed at bringing Iran back to the negotiating table to discuss its nuclear program.
Neither Israel nor the United States has ruled out military strikes in a bid to make Iran comply with international demands to halt its uranium enrichment program.
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