Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves as he attends the opening ceremony of the 29th Annual Session
of the OPEC Ministerial Council in the city of Isfahan, 450
km (280 miles) south of Tehran, June 17, 2008.
(Xinhua/Reuters, File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
TEHRAN, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad Sunday said holding any talks over Iran's nuclear programs was
considered "a step forward," the official IRNA news agency reported.
Ahmadinejad's words came as high-level talks between
six major countries and Iran over its controversial nuclear programs staged in
Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday.
The talks were held between Iranian top nuclear
negotiator Saeed Jalili and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier
Solana, in the presence of U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns and senior
diplomats from China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.
Solana told a press conference after the talks that
"there is always progress in these talks, but insufficient," adding the one-day
meeting was "constructive."
He voiced hope that the long-running Iran nuclear
issue should be solved through cooperation instead of confrontation.
However, U.S. spokesman Sean McCormack warned after
the talks that Iran should either accept the incentives, or face "further
isolation."
Ahmadinejad rejected any threats against the Islamic
Republic, saying the country would continue its nuclear drive.
"We expect threats and hostility from the enemies
side, but we are getting stronger day by day and keep moving forward," IRNA
quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
The United States and its allies accused Iran of
trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program.
Iran denied the U.S. charges and insists that its nuclear program is for
peaceful purposes only.
GENEVA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The high-level talks
between six countries and Iran over its controversial nuclear programs have
yielded "insufficient" progress on Saturday and diplomats attending the one-day
meeting have called for enhanced efforts so as to solve the issue peacefully.
"There is always progress in these talks, but
insufficient," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told a press conference
after talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in the presence of
U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns and senior diplomats from China,
Russia, Britain, France and Germany. Full story
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
(L) shakes hand with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili before a
meeting on nuclear issues at the Town Hall in Geneva, July 19, 2008.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
GENEVA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran has given no clear
answer to a package of incentives for suspending its nuclear program, EU foreign
policy chief Javier Solana said Saturday.
"We didn't get the answer to our questions," Solana
said at a press conference after talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed
Jalili in the presence of U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns and senior
diplomats from China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany. Full story
GENEVA, July 19
(Xinhua) -- Related parties should enhance diplomatic efforts and show
flexibility in order to find a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue,
a senior Chinese diplomat said here on Saturday. Full story
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. Full story
ANKARA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali
Babacan said Friday Turkey supports holding dialogue on Iran's nuclear program.
Babacan made the remarks at a joint news conference
following his talks with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in
the Turkish capital of Ankara. Full story
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
