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Discussions Ongoing For Iran-EU Nuclear Talks

September 6, 2006 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki says discussions are continuing to fix a date and place for talks with the European Union over Tehran's nuclear program.

He also said constructive talks are needed to solve outstanding issued.

"The time of using the language of threat has passed, and they [Western countries] should put aside old and abolished methods," he said. "Constructive and transparent talk is the most suitable way for resolving any issue that is on their mind."

Talks between Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, and the EU's foreign-policy chief, Javier Solana, had been tentatively set for today in Vienna.

An Iranian diplomat said the talks are likely to be held in the Austrian capital in a "couple of days." Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said in Vienna that there was "no particular reason" for the delay.

The United States has led international concerns that Iran is covertly trying to develop a nuclear weapons program. Tehran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

In an apparent sign of international impatience, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that Moscow was considering support for UN economic sanctions against Iran. However, Lavrov said Russia still had reservations about imposing sanctions and underlined Moscow's opposition to any military action.

(Reuters, AFP, AP)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org