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THE first formal talks between Iranian and American officials since the breaking of diplomatic relations almost 30 years ago have been given the go-ahead by President Barack Obama.
Despite warnings from Tehran that it will not negotiate on its nuclear programme, Obama decided on Friday to accept an offer of face-to-face talks that will also be attended by British, Russian, Chinese and other European officials.
The US decision to resume direct contact with Iran after years of mutual belligerence followed indications from Moscow that Russia would not support any new United Nations sanctions on Iran over its pursuit of nuclear technology.
The talks will be the first substantive contacts since the seizure of 53 hostages in the American embassy in Tehran in 1979.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, vowed last week that Tehran would never halt its production of enriched uranium — the fuel used in nuclear weapons.
At the same time the Iranians offered western critics a broader discussion on “co-operation, peace and justice”. US officials said expectations of a breakthrough were “extremely low”, but the State Department said Washington was ready to test whether Iran was genuinely interested in dialogue.
It added: “If Iran is willing to enter into serious negotiations, then they will find a willing participant in the US and the other countries.”
Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian foreign minister, hinted yesterday that the nuclear issue might be addressed “should conditions be ripe”.
The decision exposes Obama to Republican complaints that he has not been tough enough on Iran. But the president emphasised during his election campaign that he would be ready to talk directly to America’s enemies. It emerged on Friday that a senior US official may soon visit Pyongyang for talks on North Korea’s nuclear programme. Link...