Iran and European Union Postpone Talks

Head of the U.S. delegation to the IAEA Gregory Schulte, right, talks to IAEA's Director General Mohamed ElBaradei prior to the start of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation board of governors meeting, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006, at Vienna's International Center. (AP Photo/Hans Punz) (Hans Punz - AP)

Different interpretations of what was achieved at the weekend talks were reflected earlier in the day.

In moderate language, Britain, France and Germany only alluded to the threat of Security Council sanctions if Iran continues to enrich uranium and called on the Tehran regime to negotiate the dispute with the international community.

The United States, in contrast, said it was time for the council "to back international diplomacy with sanctions."

The relatively soft tone of the European statement at a meeting of the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency appeared focused on keeping confrontation low a day ahead of what then was still thought to be a Solana-Larijani meeting.

Diplomats accredited to the IAEA meeting, who agreed to discuss the matter only if granted anonymity, said that while France and Britain favored a tougher approach, Germany wanted a more toned-down text.

The need for bargaining among the Europeans _ and the sharper tone of the U.S. statement _ reflected uncertainties about Iranian intentions after Tehran suggested during the talks Sunday that it was ready to consider a short-term enrichment freeze.

"We continue to extend an open hand to Iran," the European statement said. It added that if Iran met the demand on enrichment, "we will ask to suspend action in the Security Council."

The three said the Solana-Larijani meetings had "helped clarify some misunderstandings."

But the chief U.S. delegate, Gregory L. Schulte, accused Iran of "a history of deception, lack of transparency, provocative behavior and disregard for its international obligations."

"The time has come for the Security Council to back international diplomacy with international sanctions," he said.

In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will take up the sanctions issue with other diplomats when the U.N. General Assembly meets next week in New York.

The five permanent members of the Security Council _ the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China _ along with Germany have offered Iran economic and political rewards if it agrees to consider a long-term moratorium on enrichment and commits to an enrichment freeze before talks to discuss details of their package.

Reflecting differences over how to deal with Tehran, they gave up an attempt to jointly criticize Iran's defiance Tuesday, after China and Russia refused to endorse U.S.-backed tough language, diplomats said.

Those two countries have resisted U.S.-led efforts to move to sanctions quickly, despite the passing of the Security Council's Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to freeze work on developing enrichment technology. They favor continued negotiations.

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Associated Press writer Palma Benczenleitner contributed to this report.