Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis    

    SHANGHAI, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said here Wednesday that the six-nation talks on Iran's nuclear issue had reached an "important consensus" to formulate a plan to restart negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue.

    The press release said that the attendant parties had profound and constructive discussions on the next steps, however, it did not offer any further information about what the consensus was.

Officials from China, United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and the Council of European Union gather in Shanghai to discuss a plan to restart negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue April 16.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The involved parties all agreed to maintain close communication and consultation in an effort to continue their discussions on some unsolved issues concerning the plan, the press release added.

    At the invitation of Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei, officials from China, United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and the Council of European Union gathered in Shanghai to discuss a plan to restart negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue.

    However, the meeting was overshadowed by Tehran's latest defiant moves, by announcing that the country had tested a new advanced centrifuge and started to install 6,000 new centrifuges at Natanz nuclear plant.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei(C) speaks at the meeting attended by officials from China, United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and the Council of European Union in Shanghai April 16.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Today a new machine was put to test," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech on the occasion to mark Iran's National Day of Nuclear Technology on Tuesday evening, adding that "It is smaller," but its capacity "is five times greater than the current machines", according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.

    According to the press release, during the meeting, He reiterated China's call for a peaceful resolution of the issue through diplomatic negotiations, urging the concerned parties to reinforce their diplomatic efforts, demonstrate their flexibility to work out a concrete and creative plan to resume the negotiation on the final comprehensive and long-lasting settlement of the issue.

    The meeting itself is aimed at further carrying out the consensus reached in a statement by the six foreign ministers, the press release added.

    The 15-member United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1803 on March 3, which included travel restrictions and bans for more Iranians, an expansion of asset freezes, curbs on dual-use nuclear items, export credit, financial monitoring, cargo inspections on aircraft and vessels, and possible "next steps."

    The foreign ministers of the six countries issued a statement after the vote, saying that Resolution 1803 reflected "the international community's serious concerns about the proliferation risks of the Iranian nuclear program."

    "We remain committed to an early negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and reaffirm our commitment to a dual-track approach," the statement said. "We remain ready to negotiate future arrangements, modalities and timing ... once the conditions for negotiations have been established."

Key meeting on Iran's nuke issue overshadowed by Tehran's defiance

    BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Officials from the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany convene Wednesday in Shanghai, China, to discuss a plan to restart talks on Iran's nuclear issue, but Tehran's latest defiant moves indicate their job would not be easy.

    On Monday, just two days before the key meeting, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said other nations can gain access to Iran's nuclear technology within the framework of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations. Full story

U.S. skeptical about Iran's claim on nuclear development

    WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States criticized Iran on Tuesday for its continued violation of UN resolution on disputed nuclear program while expressing its doubt about Iran's claim that it had started work to install 6,000 new centrifuges to enrich uranium.

    "I can't substantiate the claims. There are always multiple claims coming out of Iran about progress on this, progress on that. I don't think the underlying situation has changed," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters.  Full story

Ahmadinejad: Iran starts to install 6,000 nuclear centrifuges

    TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic had started to install 6,000 new centrifuges at Natanz nuclear plant, state media reported.

    The president made the remarks after inspecting various sections of Natanz nuclear site in central Isfahan province, the official IRNA news agency reported.  Full story

U.S.: six nations to renew talks on Iran's nuclear issue

    WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Officials from the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany are due to meet later this month in a bid to renew their efforts to make Iran halt its sensitive nuclear work, the State Department said on Monday.

    "I can only narrow it down to mid-April. We're going to wait, we're going to let our hosts announce the meeting," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.   Full story