World powers wrap up nuclear talks without progress
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Six world powers wrapped up nuclear talks with Iran without any progress here on Saturday.
Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, said at a press conference that doors and telephone lines remain open to Iran. But she said there is no plan for further talks in near future.
"We came forward without any preconditions to find ways to cooperate," she said, adding that it soon became clear that unless the P5+1 agreed to Iran's preconditions on the right to enrichment and sanctions, there would be no resolution.
"But these preconditions are not the way to proceed," she noted.
Ashton said many compromises had been offered, from an updated uranium fuel swap agreement to a separate meeting with the Vienna Group, adding that they recognize Iran's right to civil nuclear energy. However, she added, the international community demanded greater transparency on the matter and that IAEA has not been able to certify the exclusive peaceful nature of Iran's program.
"We expected Iran to have a pragmatic attitude and respond positively," she said. "This is not the conclusion I had hoped for. "
Catherine headed the P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council including the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany). Iran is represented by Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The first meeting between Iran and P5+1 took place in Geneva, Switzerland in October 2009.
