let iran participate

Annan: Iran wants to participate in nuclear negotiations
The Canadian Press
Thursday, January 12, 2006 Article tools
canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=77cd767e-5b90-4998-be67-952c24e75356&k=1668

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says Iran's top nuclear negotiator told him today that Tehran wants to talk.

He says Iran is interested in ``serious and constructive negotiations'' with Britain, France and Germany.

During a 40-minute telephone conversation, Iran's negotiator told Annan that Iran wants to resume the talks but this time with a deadline.

Earlier today following a meeting in Berlin, the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain and France said they want Iran referred to the Security Council for possible sanctions following its decision to resume nuclear activities.

Germany's foreign minister said talks between the three E.U. members and Tehran have reached a ``dead end.''

The Canadian government says it supports a call for Iran to be referred to the Security Council.

The Foreign Affairs department says Canada is deeply concerned by Iran's unilateral and unwarranted decision to resume uranium enrichment-related activities.

It says Iran's recent actions and past non-compliance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are now clearly a matter of international peace and security.

Foreign Affairs says Canada remains committed to a diplomatic solution.

And U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today called on the U.N. to demand that Tehran halt its nuclear program.

But she didn't say whether the U-S has enough votes at the Security Council to punish Iran -- or would even try to at this stage.