Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Iran

European Leaders Cautiously Optimistic On Iran Talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (file photo) (epa)

June 7, 2006 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, today expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for talks to defuse the crisis over Iran's nuclear program.

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June 07, 2006

Solana met with Merkel in Berlin after delivering a package of incentives to leaders in Iran on June 6 aimed at convincing Iran to suspend its program to enrich uranium, a process that Iran could potentially develop to the stage where it could produce nuclear weapons.

Merkel said the package represents "a really important chance" to resolve the dispute by diplomacy.

Solana said he hoped for a swift signal from Tehran and would willingly hold a further round of talks with Iranian officials.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today the package envisages Iran suspending uranium enrichment, and the UN Security Council refraining from debating Iran's nuclear program while talks on the offer are under way.

Few other details of the offer have been revealed so far.

Lavrov said he expects Iran to give its response by the end of June.

(compiled from agency reports)

What The Street Thinks

A demonstration in support of Iran's nuclear program outside the Isfahan uranium-conversion facility in Isfahan in January (epa)

IRANIANS SPEAK OUT ON THE DISPUTE: To find out more about what Iranians think about the international controversy over their country's nuclear program, RADIO FARDA asked listeners to express their views....(more)

THE COMPLETE PICTURE: RFE/RL's complete coverage of controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

CHRONOLOGY

An annotated timeline of Iran's nuclear program.

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