U.S. Says No Talks Unless Iran Halts Its Nuclear Work
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WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Tony Snow on Wednesday ruled out direct talks between the United States and Iran at least until Tehran ended uranium enrichment, which it has refused to do, and allowed international inspections.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that Iran had been showing interest in talks through intermediaries but that the U.S. had not replied.
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, met with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani several days ago. He is among a long list of diplomats and leaders who have said U.S.-Iranian talks could defuse the standoff.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said talks held Wednesday on perks and penalties meant to stop Iran from pursuing nuclear activities had made “good progress.”
Iran says it has a right to enrich uranium as fuel for power generators. The West fears that Tehran is secretly developing material for a bomb.
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