Tehran is reopening talks with the six mediators (Russia, China, the
USA, France, the UK, and Germany) on its nuclear program, RIA Novosti
reports.
Just as in November 2009, before IAEA expressed criticism of Iran for
constructing the second uranium-enrichment plant, the six
international mediators and an envoy of Tehran will discuss the
nuclear program in Geneva. Russian experts do not expect too much
progress from the talks.
Deputy heads of the Russian, US, UK, Chinese, German, French
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the High EU Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will be at the
negotiations in Geneva. Iran will be represented by the secretary of
the High Council of National Security Said Jalili. The Russian
delegation will be headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In early November Tehran requested Catherine Ashton to hold the talks
in Istanbul on November 23 or December 5. EU proposed to hold the
talks in Geneva. Ashton confirmed that the talks will be held on
December 6-7.
Exchange of low-enriched uranium (under 20%) for the nuclear reactor
in Tehran is expected to be the main topic for discussions. The US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the agreement of Tehran to
discuss the issue.
Tehran is confident that a peaceful nuclear program is Iran's right.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Tehran is ready to
discuss global international programs, not the nuclear program. Said
Jalili only confirmed the statement of the executive authorities of
Iran, adding that Tehran considers the coming negotiations for further
cooperation.
The head of Iranian Organization of Nuclear Energy Ali Akbar Salekhi
said that uranium produced in Iran will be used for the nuclear
program for the first time, which may change the topic of discussions
and the situation may change radically.
The situation around Iran complicated on February 11 when Tehran
produced its first portion of enriched uranium (up to 20%) and
announced about its potential to produce even higher-enriched uranium.
Tehran also announced the plans to triple uranium production.
Since 2003, the six mediators and IAEA are urging Iran to halt uranium
enrichment, as a threat to the non-proliferation regime. The talks
stopped in 2009 when IAEA subjected Iran to criticism for constructing
the second uranium enrichment plant. Turkey, Iran and Brazil agreed to
exchange Iranian low-enriched uranium for high-enriched in Turkey.
USA and Turkey accuse Iran of developing nuclear arms, on the
background of peaceful nuclear program. Tehran denies all accusations
and insists that the program is aimed at fulfilling the demand for
electricity.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution in June 2010, introducing
tougher sanctions against Iran. Before the start of the talks Iran
declared the development of its own uranium resources and devotion to
the program, regardless of any circumstances. Iran has already
prepared the first portion of its own uranium for further enrichment.
The West said that Iran does not have such uranium reserves to fulfill
its demand for nuclear electricity.
