Six nations meet on Iran's nuclear program

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Six countries trying to address concerns about Iran's nuclear program are meeting in Germany Wednesday, a day after the Islamic regime said it would present a new package of proposals. The meeting taking place at an undisclosed location near Frankfurt and involves political directors from the US, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany. No official announcements are expected. On Tuesday, Iran's main nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, told reporters his nation will present new proposals and will open talks "in order to ease common concerns in the international arena." Western nations and others worry Iran is moving toward development of nuclear warheads. But Iranian leaders say the country only seeks reactors to produce electricity. In its latest report, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it has pressed Iran to clarify the purpose of its uranium enrichment activities and reassure the world that it's not trying to build an atomic weapon. The agency acknowledged, however, that Iran has been producing nuclear fuel at a slower rate and has allowed UN inspectors broader access to its main nuclear complex in the southern city of Natanz and to a reactor in Arak. The six countries have also been discussing the possibility of holding a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in late September. That would dovetail with U.S. President Barack Obama's deadline for Iran to agree to nuclear talks or risk harsher sanctions. Last year, Tehran was offered economic incentives in exchange for suspending uranium enrichment, but Iran's leaders responded by saying they would never give up control of the production of nuclear fuel.