No talk of enrichment suspension in Geneva: SNSC chief
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN -- Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili said here on Monday that the suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment program was not discussed during his talks in Geneva with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Jalili, who is Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, met Solana and representatives of the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) in the Swiss city for talks on Iran’s nuclear program on Saturday July 19. U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns also participated in the negotiations. It was the highest level of diplomatic contact between Iran and the United States in 30 years.

“At the Geneva talks, there was no discussion whatsoever of suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment,” Jalili told reporters at a press conference on Monday morning at Imam Khomeini Airport shortly after his arrival in Tehran.

Asked whether there were any new definitions of suspension, he said, “No discussion of this issue took place. In principle, the aim of the talks was to reach an agreement on the resumption, structure, and timetable of the (future) negotiations.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran entered the talks with the initiative, definite proposals, and a constructive approach, which were welcomed by the other sides,” Jalili added.

“Iran welcomes the constructive and forward-looking atmosphere of the talks.”

Commenting on the U.S. representative’s participation in the Geneva meeting, he said, “We entered the talks with a positive and constructive approach and expressed our viewpoints. The 5+1 group also presented theirs. All in all, we believe the approaches were positive and forward-looking.”

In response to reports that some Western countries have set a two-week deadline for Iran, Jalili stated that the two sides agreed to continue the negotiations in two weeks.

Last month, the 5+1 group presented Iran a package offering the Islamic Republic incentives in return for a halt to uranium enrichment activities.

Iran delivered its response to the 5+1 group on July 4.

   Print Version     |        Back    |     Send To Friend