May 24, 2012
Iran nuke talks stall over sanctions
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European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili attend a meeting in Baghdad on May 23. Photo by REUTERS/Government Spokesman Office
Talks between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program have stalled over Iran’s reluctance to advance without sanctions concessions.
The talks Wednesday in Baghdad between Iran and Russia, the United States, China, Britain France and Germany ended inconclusively, multiple media reports said, because Iran wanted a hold on major European oil sanctions set to kick in July 1 in exchange for staying at the table.
Western powers have emphasized that sanctions would remain in place until Iran provably made its program more transparent and suspended some enrichment of uranium—a key demand of Israel, which has expressed concern that Iran is buying time with the talks.
It was not clear when talks would resume; they could be delayed until next month, according to various media.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Western experts say evidence increasingly suggests that Iran is close to a capability to build a nuclear weapon.
