Iran seeks to allay nuclear fears

Iran seeks to allay nuclear fears: "

Geneva diplomatic remarks hints at possibility of future cooperation over nuclear energy

Iran has expressed a desire to 'allay the fears of the international community' over its nuclear programme, and raised the possibility of future cooperation over nuclear energy, according to sources close to international talks in Geneva.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator made the remarks in the opening session of talks in Geneva with diplomats from six major powers taking part in the meeting, the first of its kind in more than a year.

It had been feared that the Iranian ­official might refuse to discuss nuclear issues, but a source said they took up three-quarters of the opening session.

Saeed Jalili – described as relaxed and positive by sources at the meetings – said the Geneva talks and ­subsequent meetings would lay the ground for co-operation. He said: 'We should co-operate in the fields of nuclear energy.'
Iran's aim, Jalili said, was to 'allay the fears of the international community', over Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran says is purely for civilian purposes, and which the west believes is a front for the development of atomic weapons.

But despite the early positive signs, ­Jalili has given no sign that Tehran is ready to compromise over its central position – that it has an inalienable right to enrich ­uranium, despite several UN security council resolutions demanding a suspension.

Jalili raised last Monday's attacks on two Iranian nuclear scientists, in which one was killed and another injured.

He said: 'I am mentioning this because some people have said there are ­connections between the attacks and the talks.' The EU's high representative for foreign affairs, Lady Ashton, who is leading the six-nation delegation, said she unreservedly condemned the attacks.

In the opening session Jalili, Ashton and the diplomats from the six-nation group – the US, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany – stated their position.

That was followed by bilateral meetings with the Iranians, although it was unclear which delegations took part.

The evening session was intended to give Jalili the opportunity to respond to concerns raised over Iran's continued enrichment of uranium and unresolved questions about possible military ­dimensions of the Iranian programme.

The talks are due to go into a final ­session this morning. After that, the diplomats will go back to their capitals to decide whether further negotiations, most likely in Turkey in the new year, would be worthwhile.

On Sunday, Iran's nuclear energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said the country would use domestically produced uranium ­concentrates, known as yellowcake, for the first time at a key nuclear facility, ­cutting reliance on imports of the ­ingredient for nuclear fuel.

The timing of the announcement appeared to be aimed at showing Tehran's determination to pursue its nuclear plans before the talks in Geneva, which are due to resume today."