BERLIN, Sept 27: Top Iranian top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana began talks here on Wednesday billed as a final chance for Tehran to agree to a nuclear deal offered by world powers.
As the two men sat down in a villa in northwestern Berlin, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a defiant message that his country would ‘not back down’ on its nuclear rights in the face of pressure from the western powers.
“They want to use suspension (of nuclear enrichment) for propaganda and tell the world that they forced Iran into accepting suspension,” Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
“They are making a mistake and the Iranian nation will not back down on its rights.”
Solana and Larijani made no comment to waiting reporters before starting their first meeting for more than two weeks.
European diplomats have portrayed the talks as a last opportunity for Iran to agree to UN Security Council demands to suspend uranium enrichment activities and thus stave off the threat of United Nations sanctions.
The deal offered by the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany asks Iran to accept a package of incentives in exchange for it halting enrichment.
Key to the success of Wednesday’s talks is the question of whether Iran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment for a limited period of time before or even during full negotiations with world powers.
The Washington Times reported on Tuesday that Iran was close to agreeing a secret deal that would see it suspend enrichment for 90 days in order for additional talks to take place with European nations.
