Moscow and Washington failed to overcome their differences over Iran’s nuclear programme yesterday, with a meeting of top diplomats in London unable to agree on what sanctions or incentives to present to the Islamic republic.
Moscow is reluctant to back a United Nations resolution that could pave the way for sanctions against Tehran, while Washington has misgivings about offering Iran nuclear technology and security assurances.
With speculation continuing that a diplomatic impasse could lead to a US military strike on Iran, the European Union believes both threats and incentives are necessary to convince Tehran to halt development of the nuclear fuel cycle.
The US is also under pressure from its allies to open up communications with Iran. Yesterday the State Department acknowledged that Tehran had made known its interest in dialogue. US officials dismissed recent overtures as reaction to mounting international pressure, although they did not explicitly rule out the possibility of talks if Iran suspended its uranium enrichment programme.
Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, said “good progress” had been made at the London meeting of foreign policy directors from the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. Diplomats said ministers might meet next week in another attempt to break the impasse.
Ms Rice was speaking in Washington after meeting Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who briefed the US on the Iranian position. He said it was up to the US to decide whether to join the European-led negotiations with Iran.
Nicholas Burns, the US representative sent to London, also spoke to diplomats from Canada, Japan and Italy about possible sanctions and counter-proliferation measures, a US official said, signalling US efforts to broaden its coalition.
“Both Japan and Italy have very significant trading relationships with Iran,” the State Department said.
Iran insists its nuclear intentions are purely peaceful and denies it has a covert weapons programme.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies, the London based think-tank, said estimates Iran could produce enough material for a bomb as early as 2008 were “within the margin of error”.
