An Iranian top official said yesterday that the accurate place and time of
his meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on the
six-nation package would be determined next week.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larjani made the remarks to reporters after
his meeting with visiting former Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari, reported
the official IRNA news agency.
"We are talking on the matter now and will decide the accurate place and time
of Mr. Solana's meeting with me next week," Larjani was quoted as saying.
However, Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach disclosed earlier Wednesday
that the meeting between the two sides would take place next week, without
revealing the exact time.
A Western diplomat said on Wednesday that Iran obviously wanted to postpone
the meeting to a time after next Thursday's Group Eight (G8) foreign ministerial
meeting in Moscow, which may come up with a statement setting a deadline for
Iran's compliance on the nuclear dispute.
It was reported that Solana will meet with Larijani on the "ambiguities"
which Iran referred to in the six-nation package calling on Iran for a
suspension of the uranium enrichment.
On June 6, Solana offered Iran the six-nation incentive package concerning
the Iranian nuclear issue, which had been agreed on by the five permanent
members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country would formally
reply to the six-nation proposals in mid-August.
The United States has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons
under a civilian front, but Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear program is
aimed to generate power to meet the country's surging electricity demand.