Update [2006-5-31 10:59:43 by Steven D]: CNN confirms the story.
Update [2006-5-31 11:37:58 by Steven D]: #2 — Here’s the link to Rice’s full statement. (More below the fold)
The Mail & Guardian (online ed.) is now reporting that diplomatic sources say President Bush may agree to direct negotiations with Iran on the condition that Russia and China agree to support the US plan for sanctions in the Security Council:
The United States is ready for the first time to join talks with Iran over its nuclear programme, provided Russia and China agree to sanctions if Tehran refuses to limit its atomic ambitions, diplomats told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday.
A Western diplomat said the US was “willing to sit at the table with the Iranians” together with the four other permanent United Nations Security Council members plus Germany.
More below the fold . . .
I have no idea which diplomats are the source for this story, or how accurate their claims will turn out to be. We’ll have to wait and see. the rough outline appears to be similar to the six party talks that the Bush une.cadministration agreed to with North Korea regarding that nation’s nuclear activities.
Here are some more of the details from the report:
Such talks would focus on a package offering trade, security and technology incentives to Iran in return for guarantees that it will not develop nuclear weapons.
The proposals, drafted by a European Union troika that has negotiated with Iran, are to be discussed at a meeting of world powers on Thursday in Vienna.
The diplomat said Washington would only join multi-party talks “if Russia and China can agree on Thursday to key aspects of the package, including some specific future sanctions if Iran rejects it”.
<snip>
A White House spokesperson said on Tuesday that it was “glad” Iran had voiced a desire to restart talks with the EU troika of Britain, Germany and France.
The diplomat’s comments on the US considering multi-party talks were confirmed by another diplomat from a second member of the UN’s permanent five, made up of Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.
They asked not to be named.
“It’s not a done deal yet, but the US is definitely extending itself to try to get to ‘Yes’,” the first said of possible US participation in talks.
Update [2006-5-31 10:59:43 by Steven D]: CNN is now running this story where Conoleezza Rice is quoted on possible talks with Iran:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is prepared to join other nations in holding direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program if Iran first agrees to stop disputed nuclear activities that the West fears could lead to a bomb, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday.
“To underscore our commitment to a diplomatic solution and to enhance prospects for success, as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table,” Rice said in remarks prepared for delivery at the State Department.
The Swiss ambassador to the United States was called to the State Department earlier Wednesday to receive a copy of Rice’s remarks for transmission to Iran, U.S. officials said. The United States has had no diplomatic ties with Iran and few contacts at all with its government since Islamic radicals took over the U.S. Embassy in 1979 and held diplomats there for more than a year.
Two things:
First: Yes, Iran must stop enrichment, but they are only doing limited research now so that really shouldn’t be a hold up. Re-starting up a research program on enrichment can be easily accomplished if the talks are unproductive, and it’s not like they are making bomb grade material with their limited program anyway.
Second: For the first time it appears that security assurances for Iran are on the table from the US, if the Mail and Guardian story is true. If that is the case it should strengthen the hands of the more moderate factions in the Iranian government, and make a negotiated settlement a more likely prospect. On the other hand, should it prove false, and the US is not prepared to offer any assurances on security matters to the Iranians, it is unlikely that Iran would be willing to suspend enrichment, or that China and Russia would agree to support sanctions.
Update [2006-5-31 11:37:58 by Steven D]: #2 — Here’s the complete text of Rice’s statement:
The pursuit by the Iranian regime of nuclear weapons represents a direct threat to the entire international community, including to the United States and to the Persian Gulf region. In defiance of repeated calls from the IAEA Board of Governors and from the Security Council, the Iranian government has accelerated its nuclear program while continuing to conceal its activities from international inspectors.
Working with our international partners, the United States is making every effort to achieve a successful diplomatic outcome, but the international community has made clear that the Iranian regime must not acquire nuclear weapons. The vital interests of the United States, of our friends and allies in the region, and of the entire international community are at risk, and the United States will act accordingly to protect those common interests.
Today, the Iranian regime can decide on one of two paths – one of two fundamentally different futures for its people and for its relationship with the international community.
The Iranian government’s choices are clear. The negative choice is for the regime to maintain its current course, pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community and its international obligations.
If the regime does so, it will incur only great costs.
We and our European partners agree that path will lead to international isolation and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions.
The positive and constructive choice is for the Iranian regime to alter its present course and cooperate in resolving the nuclear issue, beginning by immediately resuming suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, as well as full cooperation with the IAEA and returning to implementation of the Additional Protocol providing greater access for the IAEA.
This path would lead to the real benefit and longer-term security of the Iranian people, the region, and the world as a whole.
The Iranian people believe they have the right to civil nuclear energy. We acknowledge that right. Yet the international agreements Iran has signed make clear that Iran’s exercise of that right must conform with its commitments. In view of its previous violations of its commitments and the secret nuclear program it undertook, the Iranian regime must persuasively demonstrate that it has permanently abandoned its quest for nuclear weapons.
The benefits of this second path for the Iranian people would go beyond civil nuclear energy, and could include progressively greater economic cooperation.
The United States will actively support these benefits both publicly and privately. Furthermore, President Bush has consistently emphasized that the United States is committed to a diplomatic solution to the nuclear challenge posed by the Iranian regime.
We are agreed with our European partners on the essential elements of a package containing both the benefits if Iran makes the right choice, and the costs if it does not. We hope that in the coming days the Iranian government will thoroughly consider this proposal.
Our British, French and German partners have rightly required that Iran fully and verifiably suspend its enrichment and reprocessing activities before the sides can return to negotiations. This is the condition that has been established by the IAEA Board of Governors and by the UN Security Council.
The United States is willing to exert strong leadership to give diplomacy its very best chance to succeed.
Thus, to underscore our commitment to a diplomatic solution and to enhance the prospects for success, as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table with our EU-3 colleagues and meet with Iran’s representatives.
This morning US representatives have conveyed my statement to Iran through the good offices of the Swiss government, and through Iran’s representative to the United Nations.
Given the benefits of this positive path for the Iranian people, regional security, and the nuclear nonproliferation regime, we urge Iran to make this choice for peace — to abandon its ambition for nuclear weapons.
President Bush wants a new and positive relationship between the American people and the people of Iran — a beneficial relationship of increased contacts in education, cultural exchange, sports, travel, trade, and investment. The nuclear issue is not the only obstacle standing in the way of improved relations.
The Iranian government supports terror, is involved in violence in Iraq, and is undercutting the restoration of full sovereignty in Lebanon under UN Security Council Resolution 1559. These policies are out of step with the international community and are barriers to a positive relationship between the Iranian people and the people of the United States and the rest of the world.
Iran can and should be a responsible state, not the leading state sponsor of terror. The United States is ready to join the EU-3 to press these and other issues with the Iranian government in addition to our work to resolve the nuclear danger.
At the same time, we will continue to work with our international partners to end the proliferation trade globally, to bar all proliferators from international financial resources, and to end support for terror. We also intend to work with our friends and allies to strengthen their defensive capacity, counterproliferation and counterterrorism efforts, and energy security capabilities.
Those measures present no threat to a peaceful Iran with a transparent, purely civil nuclear energy program, but provide essential protection for the United States, our friends and allies if the Iranian regime chooses the wrong path.
If the Iranian regime believes that it will benefit from the possession of nuclear weapons, it is mistaken. The United States will be steadfast in defense of our forces, and steadfast in defense of our friends and allies who wish to work together for common security.
The Iranian people have a proud past, and merit a great future. We believe the Iranian people want a future of freedom and human rights-– the right to vote, to run for office, to express their views without fear, and to pursue political causes. We would welcome the progress, prosperity, and freedom of the Iranian people.
The United States looks forward to a new relationship between our peoples that advances these goals. We sincerely hope that the Iranian regime will choose to make that future possible.
Proposed US/Iranian Negotiations