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By VOA News
 A
senior U.S. official says the United States will send a top diplomat to
participate in talks with Iran about Tehran's nuclear program at a meeting
Saturday in Geneva.
In a shift in long-standing policy, the official said Undersecretary of State
William Burns will join a meeting with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed
Jalili, and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
The U.S has previously refused to attend any talks with Tehran on its nuclear
program until it stops enriching uranium.
The American official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stressed that
Burns will not negotiate during his visit and will not hold separate meetings
with the Iranians.
He said Burns will reiterate the Bush administration's position that Iran must
suspend uranium enrichment before the United States can enter into serious
negotiations with the country.
Earlier this week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the meeting in
Geneva will focus on what he called "common points" of the proposals made by six
world powers and Iran to settle the nuclear dispute.
Mr. Ahmadinejad also said talks with the United States on Iran's nuclear program
are possible in the near future.
Iranian state-run media quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as saying he would welcome such
talks if they are conducted in fair conditions. But Mr. Ahmadinejad reiterated
his rejection of any preconditions for resuming negotiations with world powers.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
Iran seeks equality in nuclear talks
Source: Press TV
 Iran
has told six European powers that it will not participate in negotiations over
its nuclear program from a position of inequality.
In a July 4 letter, which was published on a French website Tuesday, Iran's
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Tehran would not give up the right
to produce its own nuclear fuel, but would be willing to negotiate a broader
peace and security deal.
The letter was a response to an unofficial letter presented to Iran June 14 on
behalf of six European powers alongside a package of incentives drawn up by the
permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, the G5+1.
"We have no intention of changing this path," said the three-page,
English-language version of Mottaki's letter, referring to the country's quest
for a nuclear fuel industry.
"The world has changed ... The people of Iran have worked out plans for the
advancement of their country without asking for help from others," the letter
added.
Mottaki also pointed out that the pressure to end the country's program was
'illegal' as the UN nuclear watchdog had found nothing to indicate diversion in
Iran's enrichment activities.
His letter, however, said that there were 'similarities' between an earlier
Iranian proposal for comprehensive talks and the G5+1 offer of incentives -
similarities which could form the basis for pre-negotiations.
Long-term peace and security in the Middle East and other regions of the world
can only be achieved through such a comprehensive approach, said Mottaki.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently renewed his pledge not to suspend the
uranium enrichment program ahead of a July 19 meeting between the country's
Chief Nuclear Negotiator Saeed Jalili, and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier
Solana.
... Payvand News - 07/16/08 ...
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