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By Wang Zhaokun Diplomats from Iran and six world powers gathered in Geneva Monday for the first time in 14 months to discuss Tehran's nuclear ambitions, AFP reported. Saeed Jalili, secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council and Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator, held talks with Catherine Ashton, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who acts on behalf of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - China, Britain, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany, according to Reuters. Wu Hailong, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs, also arrived in Geneva Monday for the talks. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told Ashton by phone Friday that China hopes all sides will take a constructive attitude in the talks and push for progress. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki echoed Yang's remarks Monday, calling for the world to proceed with denuclearization, saying nuclear weapons will bring only disaster, AFP reported. US National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said before the talks that Washington and its allies were wait-ing to see if Iran would enter into discussions "with the seriousness of purpose required to begin to address international concerns with its nuclear program," Reuters reported. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Saturday that his country's nuclear rights are "non-negotiable" and told world powers to "stop being hostile." Jin Canrong, vice director of the School of International Studies at China's Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that the resumption of the talks is a good start, but major differences remain between Iran and Western countries. "Apart from Iran and the six powers, the attitude of Israel is also a very important factor," he added. Iran's announcement Sunday that the country had mined and produced its first homegrown batch of uranium yellowcake - the raw material for nuclear enrichment - cast a cloud over the talks. The situation was also complicated last week as Iranian nuclear scientist Majid Shahriyari was murdered in a bombing in Tehran. Iran said intelligence services from the US, Britain and Israel were responsible for the assassination. Agencies contributed to this story |
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