• Published 00:00 04.09.06
  • Latest update 00:00 04.09.06

Germany: If EU-Iran nuke talks fail, further talks pointless

FM: If current Solana talks can't change Iran stance, matter must go to UN Security Council.

By Reuters

Germany's foreign minister said on Monday that if EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator do not persuade Tehran to change its behavior, further negotiations would be pointless, and the matter would be referred to the United Nations Security Council.

Solana is due to meet with Ali Larijani later this week to discuss Iran's nuclear programme after Tehran ignored a UN Security Council demand that it freeze uranium enrichment by August 31.

"If another conversation with Solana does not bring about a change in their attitude, then further negotiations will certainly not bring us further. Then we have to refer this matter to the Security Council," Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier told a meeting of the heads of German diplomatic missions around the world.

Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed solely at the peaceful generation of electricity and will not be used to make atomic weapons as the United States and other countries suspect.

Steinmeier expressed frustration at Iran's refusal to suspend enrichment. He said he was "running out of arguments" for Iran and that he was not very hopeful that Solana's meeting with Larijani would yield much.

"We agreed that Solana will have another meeting with the Iranians, but we have to be sceptical about whether it will work after UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's meetings in Tehran," he said.

Iranian officials told Annan they were willing to hold negotiations on the nuclear dispute but would not freeze enrichment as a precondition to talks.

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  • 21. 0 0
    To Robert
    • Tim
    • 05.09.06
    • 05:32

    And who should do the bombing?

  • 20. 0 0
    To # 6 , Nechama , Sydney , Australia
    • Joseph E .
    • 04.09.06
    • 22:01

    Quote " Iran knows no one will do anything to stop them .That`s why Admenedjad (sp?) has that stupid grin on his face all the time." Aussie , Aussie Nachama , Iran will gradually see Worldwide Embassys with Flags in Teheran. A considerable Iran's Population Segment Wants it. The Defiance of Iran's Transgression of UN deadline to Stop Uranium Enrichement, comes from Warnings against Early Sanctions on Iran from Iran's States parteners Oil's Deals Resulting in Billions of dollars Profits, And they don;t know Mullah Teheran Regime as much as these Bearded Turbans knows them. Iran's military show off is an internal Pr Excercise . Eventhough this world seems to be suspended on Wind Direction , Revised plans are Updated to Stop or Weaken Iran's nuke desire for on the Other Side Of Iran's States parteners , there are those Who knows the Clerics Teheran's regime Goals, And Have The Capability To Engage Them on Iran's Challange's Call. Aussie, Aussie Nechama , Enjoy the Show .

  • 19. 0 0
    How to stop Iran
    • Rbert
    • 04.09.06
    • 21:46

    If you want to stop Iran,the way to do it is to bomb their oil export facility at Kharg Island. It's a very vulnerable target, crowded with big oil tanks. Just a few bombs will set the whole place on fire. No oil exports = no money = no nuclear program. No oil exports = no money = no arms for Hezbollah. No oil exports = no money = no way for the Iranian government to meet payroll = no Mr. Amadjihad. (or whatever his name is.) The Iranians don't care a fig if Israel kills a few Hezbollah pawns. But strike Kharg Island and you will really make them cry. That's the way to win wars.

  • 18. 0 0
    To Anoosh: Iran occupies many countries!!!
    • B. Schaepdryver
    • 04.09.06
    • 21:11

    Iran through their proxies Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah do occupy many nations allover. Maybe not directly, but they with them do threaten the world with dead and destruction if people don't convert to Islam. Al-Qaeda has set its goals, meaning that it has showed its face to what will be coming everyone's way in the West just as it happened many centuries ago after Mohammed's dead to all nations in North Africa and below, even the people living at that time in Eretz Yisrael. It's only a matter of time before Iran through their Muslim proxies worldwide will call the shot of terror of division. And you don't need a nuke within a rocket to deliver the message. Iran plays the cards and with these cards they control every Muslim nation as their proxy, even already some western nations as well. If that's not occupation, then tell me what it is because they control the policy of all these governments against those who still oppose their will. To that regard, Yisrael doesn't occupy anything!!

  • 17. 0 0
    TALK IS IRAN BUYING TIME!!! ENOUGH TALK!!!
    • Ben Uziel
    • 04.09.06
    • 20:56

    Iran must be held to account...this is absurd and irresponsible behavior on the part of the European bordering on lunacy. Diplomacy has gone to the end, there must be a line at that was crossed on the 22nd of August. Iran has chosen its path and now europe must choose its path to become eurabia or re-establish itself as a democratic force. Something tells me it will be the former rather then the latter.

  • 16. 0 0
    # 4 Failure of US approach in Irak is the greatest weakness
    • Andreas
    • 04.09.06
    • 20:15

    Yeah, yeah, yeah... another bigmouth from the neocon faction. Don't you realize that the failure of the US to prevent a civil war in Iraq and the fact that your government has kindly removed the two arch-enimy neighbours of Iran (Saddam and the Taliban) and Bush's endless "axis of evil" rhetoric has actually managed to create one such axis on a giantic scale hithero unseen between the Mediteranian and the Hindukush. Please leave foreign policy to people who understand more about it. And prevent Olmert and his crew from gambling the fate of their beloved country for pointless unilateralism and petty revenge action.

  • 15. 0 0
    Iran knows no one will do anything to stop them
    • Nechama
    • 04.09.06
    • 20:02

    That's why Admenedjad (sp?) has that stupid grin on his face all the time.

  • 14. 0 0
    Time to Set Military Options in Place
    • Marty
    • 04.09.06
    • 19:41

    Since Iran continues to snub their noses at the International community, then it is time to stop "talking" and start planning on a soon attack against Iran's nuclear facilities. Only ensure that the nuclear facilities are hit and not hurt the civilian infrastructure since most Iranians want democracy so let's assist in a regeme change and help them with whatever they need. Democracy in the middle east is the real answer.

  • 13. 0 0
    Not all doors are closed
    • Anoosh
    • 04.09.06
    • 19:08

    Iran has declared it will not suspend its legitimate nuclear research as a precondition to negotiations. This does not mean Iran will not do this during and/or after the negotiations. Bottom line, Iran is NOT going to be intimidated by the US, EU or anyone else to give up its rights, period. It is high time that Israeli nuclear bombs were put under international controls too. Iran is not occupying any territories, killing civilians on dialy basis and committing war crimes all the time. Iran has no illegal settlements populated by bunch of religious terrorists unlike Israel. The real rogue country in Israel not Iran.

  • 12. 0 0
    IRAN AND THE BOMB
    • US Citizen
    • 04.09.06
    • 18:31

    Iran does not respect weakness, which is all they have seen thus far from Europe. Unless Iran sees some muscle, they will continue to suround themselves in the protection of hot air until they have the bomb. Then, they will use it to threaten whomever they wish. Perhaps they will even use it, and not necessarily against Israel.

  • 11. 0 0
    Delay argue etc
    • Twogunz
    • 04.09.06
    • 18:24

    Well Corrie.. you must have skipped history 101 in high school. ISrael has done more to make peace with the palis and others than any arab country has done to make peace with ISrael. The last peace overture by Hizbullah was a real smooth one wasnt it. Israel ofered in 73 to give back west bank and gaza to egypot and Jordan who all said NO. They knew the palis were trouble and wanted nothing to do with them. barak gives them 98% of everytyhing they wanted, and they said NO. Its not about land, it never was about land. It was always about creating ISrael and the Nakbah. Go back to school corrie and read the history books

  • 10. 0 0
    And if there is no further point to talking, what will the UN DO
    • Yaakov K.
    • 04.09.06
    • 18:16

    Aside from public health and agricultural help, all the *U*nwanted *N*obodies DO is talk! If there is no point to further talks, and there probably isn't, since all Iran is trying to do is stall, stall, and stall some more, what will the UN actually DO?? Of what action are they capable?

  • 9. 0 0
    IMPOTENT EUROPEANS can Huff &Puff,Iran does not care.
    • PETER SM
    • 04.09.06
    • 18:11

    Best stick to criticising Israel and try to earn more brownie points. The Arabs laugh at the fools who pay for the results of Lebanese agression. Back on your hands and knees that's where you will be when Sharia becomes official.

  • 8. 0 0
    Addition to 1
    • fritz
    • 04.09.06
    • 17:48

    The German liberals, that have a strong diplomatic tradition, Genscher etc, are strongly against Merkels lunatism. The problem IMHO is that it is not clear what German troops would be fighting for. The UN SC resolution is nice, but extremly vague. Merkel etc dont understand its delicacy. Hauruck is not what the Lebanon is made of. And Olmerts new annexation plans dont make it easier. To defend Israel is no problem, but what is "Israel" today? Dont get me wrong, but it consists also of a lot of forces, that cannot be defended. Israel in the borders of 67 and discussions about the Jewish holy places in the Arab part of Jerusalem, discussions and not plain annexation, discussion, that let the Arabs keep their face, buy the holy places, rent them for 100 years or whatever, more is not possible and this is perfectly clear to everybody outside, in the real world sotosay. Again: Israel must decide. Are you so weak that you cannot criticise the US? War against Syria, what a nonsense. Etcpp.

  • 7. 0 0
    Rachal Corrie
    • Mike
    • 04.09.06
    • 17:42

    Iran will burn with its own nuclear weapon, mark my words.

  • 6. 0 0
    Germans , or Europe's Solana
    • Joseph E .
    • 04.09.06
    • 17:03

    It may be Germans , or Europe's Solana Prerogative or Line of Choice to Refer the Pointless talks of Iran's nuke matter to the UN Security Council . Sanctions against Iraq lasted 12 years just to end up with US-lead Iraq Liberation. US shouldn't wait and should be decisive on that matter. If the Germans , or Europe's Solana Choose to not to join the Firm US stand Against Persia's nuke or against Arabs-Muslims questionable liability Affaires of the ME, than Europe can always join Arabs-Muslims latter to their twisted pointing fingers games or hoaxes taken against US-Israel Policies as it is today thru their worldwide propaganda packed of hatred .

  • 5. 0 0
    Cut off the head of the poisonous snake and...
    • Leonid
    • 04.09.06
    • 16:53

    ...the rest of the body is harmless. Let the snake live and someone will get poisoned. Give the snake time to reproduce and many will die. Peaceful use of nuclear fission is the last thing the snake is thinking about and even you passive gardners know it. Everyone keeps talking about Israel but Germany and France are in the neighborhood where the snake lives. Russia and China cobras are curled up in the flowerbed with the Iranian snake waiting for opportunity. Pssssssssssssst get the picture. Hitler loved people like you...easy targets!

  • 4. 0 0
    Delay, argue, take offense, break off talks
    • Rachal Corrie
    • 04.09.06
    • 16:04

    Iran will get nuclear weapons the same way Israel avoids making peace with the Palestinians. Delay, argue, take offense, break off talks.

  • 3. 0 0
    No fight for Israel
    • Dav
    • 04.09.06
    • 15:20

    Stay home Germany, save the € and feed your hungry people.

  • 2. 0 0
    @FRITZ
    • bschnider
    • 04.09.06
    • 15:17

    You are certainly not a German and are not called Fritz! Bloody fake-name you have that makes "Friedrich den Grossen", the only real FRITZ, a Chopper in its thomb ;-)) You are a real ZIONIST...

  • 1. 0 0
    Germany is absolutely clueless, see the handling of the Lebanon
    • fritz
    • 04.09.06
    • 14:32

    The wish to become a member of the UN SC is not enough