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U.S., Iran Make Diplomatic Contact

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Los Angeles Times

Published: July 20, 2008

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iranian envoys had their highest-level diplomatic contact in 29 years Saturday, but the seven-nation gathering in Geneva on Iran's nuclear program was brought to a halt by Iran's refusal to say whether it will suspend uranium enrichment.

The presence of William J. Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, represented one of the most important encounters between Iran and the United States since relations were severed after Iran's seizure of the American Embassy in 1979.

It came as part of a moment of rare unity among negotiating partners - the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China - who pressed Iran to accept compromise.

Burns joined Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and other diplomats in hopes of coaxing Iran finally to commit to a deal aimed at negotiating an end to the country's nuclear ambitions.

Instead, the diplomats were left wondering whether the Islamic Republic intends to join negotiations, or whether it is simply playing for time as the Bush administration winds to an end.

Solana, clearly frustrated, said at a news conference in Geneva: "We have not got a clear answer. ... We didn't get an answer 'yes' or 'no.'"

Specifically, the world powers wanted Iran to accept a formula known as "freeze-for-freeze" to break the deadlock, under which Iran would not add to its nuclear program, and the United States and other nations would not seek new sanctions for six weeks to pave the way for formal negotiations. The formula was originally offered to Iran last year and presented again last month as part of a new proposal ultimately to give Iran economic and political incentives if it stops producing enriched uranium.

As a result, Iran was given another deadline of two weeks from now to provide a final answer to the group.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack offered a warning to the Iranian government: "We hope the Iranian people understand that their leaders need to make a choice between cooperation, which would bring benefits to all, and confrontation, which can only lead to further isolation."

The meeting's result was a setback for the Bush administration, which set aside its long-declared policy of avoiding almost any contact with Iran until it agrees to suspend uranium enrichment. U.S. officials fear the enrichment effort eventually will give the regime the know-how it needs to build a nuclear bomb. Iran insists it is for peaceful purposes.

Information from The New York Times was used in this report.

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