McClatchy Newspapers, Geneva, July 19, 2008 – World powers Saturday gave Iran two weeks to agree to freeze its uranium enrichment program at its current size as a first step toward full-scale negotiations on its nuclear program, or face further U.N. sanctions and isolation.
Representatives of the six nations told Iran they would have no more talks on their offer to withhold new U.N. sanctions for six weeks if Iran refrains, for a similar period, from adding new enrichment machines – called centrifuges – to the more than 3,000 it is now operating.
“I hope very much in a couple of weeks we . . . hear either telephonically or physically hear a change of view,” European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after the day-long talks with Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. “The Iranians know very well what will continue to happen (on sanctions) if nothing happens otherwise.”
Solana was more explicit behind closed doors, rejecting an Iranian proposal for three more sessions to discuss the “freeze for a freeze,” said a European official who was present and requested anonymity because the talks were confidential.
“We are not looking for any more meetings. Give us a call in two weeks time and say yes or no,” the European official quoted Solana as telling Jalili.
Solana said Jalili failed to give a clear response to the freeze for a freeze proposal that was made by the powers – Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States – and carried to Tehran by Solana last month.