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Iran's Offer of Nuclear Talks Hinders Security Council Talks on Sanctions

[Times-UK] Roger Boyes - Western diplomats struggled Wednesday in Berlin to secure an agreement on imposing tougher sanctions on Iran in an attempt to end its nuclear program. The meeting of the five UN permanent Security Council members and Germany was complicated by a last-minute offer of talks from Saeed Jalili, the top nuclear negotiator in Iran. Russia and China used the prospect of a peace offering from Tehran, however vague, as an argument against punitive measures. One plan, currently before the U.S. Congress, is to ban exports of refined petroleum products. But China is already helping Iran to build new oil refineries in the hope of doubling domestic capacity by 2012. "I believe nothing new should be expected as the six nations differ over which way they should follow to tackle Iran's nuclear program," said Vladimir Sazhin, of the Russian Institute of Oriental Studies.
2009-09-03 08:00:00
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