Diplomats said the main stumbling blocks included the status of Iran’s Arak heavy-water reactor of potential use in making bomb-grade plutonium, the fate of Iran’s stockpile of higher-enriched uranium – both acute issues for France – and the extent of relief from trade sanctions demanded by Tehran.
The UN Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions on Iran for failing to heed six successive ultimatums to suspend uranium enrichment, which Western governments suspect conceals a covert drive for a weapons capability.
The UN Security Council has passed six resolutions since 2006 calling on Iran to suspend key parts of its nuclear programme because of suspicions that Tehran wants atomic weapons, something it denies.
The US president confirmed the outreach to Rowhani for the first time, and said he believed the Syria chemical arms drama showed that diplomacy could work if backed by threats of military action.
Soon after his election as president in June, Rowhani said he wanted “serious” talks with world powers to resolve Western suspicions that Iran’s nuclear drive is cover to build a bomb despite repeated denials by Tehran.
Advocates of diplomacy have suggested that the United States should use the departure of Ahmadinejad as a chance to seek engagement with Iran, instead of maintaining a rigid posture
By Cesar Chelala Hassan Rowhani’s election as the new Iranian president bodes well not only for that country but for the world as well, tired of the senseless rhetoric of the former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. When, at a campaign speech, Mr Rowhani stated, “We have no option other than moderation,” he was also defining what …
President-elect Rowhani announces “new opportunity” for West to treat with Iran
Rowhani, 64, a former top nuclear negotiator who has championed more constructive engagement with world powers, won outright with 18.6 million votes, or 50.68% of those cast.
Rowhani, a former top nuclear negotiator, collected 14.2 million votes out of 27.6 million counted by 5pm
Reformist daily Arman hailed the discussions, saying they “showcased differences.”
