Vienna: US officials urged Iran on Tuesday to
return to negotiations over its nuclear programme.
Talks reached a stalemate months ago, after Iran tried
to re-negotiate an agreement for it to ship out most of its
low enriched uranium to be turned into fuel for a research
reactor.
Iran says it`s enriching to produce energy, but the US
and other countries fear the country could use the process to
make weapons.
Washington is "always interested in re-engaging Iran"
on the fuel swap but wants to make sure Iran is sincere, US
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said.
US Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman, speaking to
reporters alongside Chu, said it was important to focus on
larger talks between Iran and the five UN Security Council
members plus Germany, not just on the narrower talks on the
proposed fuel swap.
"Much has happened since that time to alter the facts
on the ground... and so we believe it is very important that
they should engage on the wider suite of issues" Poneman said.
Chu and Poneman spoke to reporters while attending an
annual conference held by the International Atomic Energy
Agency that has drawn delegates from countries around the
world to discuss global nuclear issues.
At yesterday`s opening session, Iran`s top
representative at the meeting, Ali Akbar Salehi, called on
Washington, France, Russia and the International Atomic Energy
Agency - known collectively as the Vienna group - to resume
the so-called fuel swap talks with Iran "without further
delay."
PTI
