Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks during a news conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York July 2, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
ANKARA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Friday that forthcoming nuclear talks in Geneva with the participation of a U.S. diplomat for the first time signaled good developments ahead.
Mottaki made the remarks at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
He said, "I think there might be an agreement both on the issue of opening a U.S. interest-protection bureau in Iran and on the issue of direct flights to Iran."
The U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns will attend the talks in Geneva on Saturday and join colleagues from other world powers to meet with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator.
"The new negotiation process is positive and the procedure is good. It signals good developments for the future," said Mottaki, adding, "We hope good results will come out if the process continues like that."
The United States, which cut diplomatic ties with Iran shortly after its 1979 Islamic revolution, accused Tehran of seeking to build nuclear bombs.
Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, said its nuclear work is solely aimed at producing electricity.
DAMASCUS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki welcomed on Thursday a U.S. involvement in its nuclear talks, hoping the U.S. presence would produce positive developments.
Mottaki made the remark in a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Full story
WASHINGTON, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. decision to send a senior official to participate in international talks on the Iranian nuclear issue is a positive signal, but the move is far from being an all-out policy shift of the George W. Bush-led U.S. administration.
White House spokesperson Dana Perino confirmed on Wednesday that William Burns, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, will attend Saturday's international talks with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva. Full story
WASHINGTON, July 16 (Xinhua) -- William Burns, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, will reiterate Washington's stance that high-level U.S.-Iran talks are possible if Iran halts its uranium enrichment, the White House said Wednesday.
Confirming the report that Burns will attend international talks with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that it would be an opportunity for Burns to reiterate that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would meet her Iranian counterpart "any time, anywhere to move forward on negotiations if they (the Iranians) would halt uranium enrichment." Full story
WASHINGTON, July 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama welcomed Wednesday the Bush administration's decision to have direct talks with Iran.
"I welcome news that the Bush Administration has shifted course and will send an envoy for direct talks with the Iranians in Geneva this weekend," he said in a statement. Full story
WASHINGTON, July 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama on Wednesday said he'd like the world free of nuclear weapons and pledged to fight emerging threats posed by biological and cyber-terrorism.
The Senator from Illinois made the remarks at a roundtable discussion on national security in West Lafayette, Ind. Full story
