WORLD> Middle East
Iran says nuclear talks a step forward
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-20 21:25

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after some six hours of talks in Geneva he hoped for a clear answer from Tehran in about two weeks to a world powers offer of trade and technical incentives to halt uranium enrichment.

Related readings:
 Iran rules out enrichment freeze at nuclear talks
 Iran vows to fight back amid mounting speculation on war
 US not to drop diplomatic approach over Iran issue
 Iran to hold nuclear talks with Solana in Geneva
Enriched uranium can provide fuel for power plants but also material for bombs if refined further.

An Iranian analyst said he did not believe Saturday's meeting had changed anything in the nuclear dispute and that Tehran's aim was to prolong the talks.

"They are trying to gain as much time as possible," the analyst, who declined to be named, said.

UNITY

The analyst said Iran would only give up nuclear enrichment for "strategic reasons or interests" and this was not on offer in the incentives package proposed by the six major powers, which includes help in developing a civilian nuclear program.

Envoys from the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain -- the so-called sextet of world powers -- attended the Geneva meeting.

Diplomats said the presence of senior US envoy William Burns underlined the unity of major powers in the dispute, which has helped push up oil prices record levels, and stressed that patience was running out with Iran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki described the US decision to attend the meeting in Geneva as a "positive procedural step" which he hoped would lead to mutually beneficial results, IRNA said.