Lack of clarity about 'suspension' of Iran's centrifuge program

London (Platts)--18Sep2006

Lack of clarity about the legal definition of a "suspension" of Iran's
centrifuge program until late this week had held up discussions between Iran
and the European Union about restarting nuclear negotiations, EU officials
told Platts.

Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana met
September 15. Prior to that meeting, Iran had suggested that its declared
willingness to suspend uranium enrichment activities sufficed to resume
negotiations. Some members from the group of six states which this summer
proposed fresh nuclear cooperation talks with Iran -- China, France, Germany,
Russia, the UK, and the US -- were, however, unwilling to agree to restart the
talks until Iran had physically ceased uranium enrichment.

Sources suggested that the two sides agreed on the terms of suspension
September 15. During a news conference September 15, Solana said, "We are
really making progress in the talks," according to Reuters. He did not give
details of his talks with Larijani.

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