EnglishLady
Veteran Expediter
Sky News - December 7
Talks between the West and Iran over its nuclear programme have failed to make any progress - but President Ahmadinejad said negotiations could work if sanctions were scrapped
Following the Geneva discussions, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany and Iran are set to meet again in Istanbul in late January.
These talks will address basic concerns about Tehran's nuclear activities, said European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
The EU is co-ordinating negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme, on behalf of the six major powers.
At the two-day talks in Switzerland, the group tried to put pressure on Iran to agree to discuss its nuclear work, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.
But the Islamic state's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili insisted Tehran would not negotiate under pressure.
The country made clear it would not back down in the dispute, which has the potential to spark a military conflict in the Middle East with dire consequences for the world economy.
Tehran says its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful electricity purposes.
In a speech in Iran, Mr Ahmadinejad called on the six powers to publicly declare Iran's national "rights", saying they would have "nothing but remorse" if they failed to do so.
He added: "By scrapping all those (sanctions) resolutions that have had no effect on the Iranian people... If you start the talks with these (actions), the talks will definitely be fruitful."
But lifting sanctions is likely to be a non-starter for the six powers.
Tehran, which announced a breakthrough in its nuclear technology, says they are having little impact.
It says trade and other sanctions imposed since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the US-backed shah have made the country stronger.
But Sky's Tim Marshall said of the President Ahmadinejad's offer: "This shows the sanctions are really beginning to hurt. The offer, though, is a non-starter.
"The six believe the only reason the Iranians have come to the talks is because the sanctions are biting."
Talks between the West and Iran over its nuclear programme have failed to make any progress - but President Ahmadinejad said negotiations could work if sanctions were scrapped
Following the Geneva discussions, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany and Iran are set to meet again in Istanbul in late January.
These talks will address basic concerns about Tehran's nuclear activities, said European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
The EU is co-ordinating negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme, on behalf of the six major powers.
At the two-day talks in Switzerland, the group tried to put pressure on Iran to agree to discuss its nuclear work, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.
But the Islamic state's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili insisted Tehran would not negotiate under pressure.
The country made clear it would not back down in the dispute, which has the potential to spark a military conflict in the Middle East with dire consequences for the world economy.
Tehran says its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful electricity purposes.
In a speech in Iran, Mr Ahmadinejad called on the six powers to publicly declare Iran's national "rights", saying they would have "nothing but remorse" if they failed to do so.
He added: "By scrapping all those (sanctions) resolutions that have had no effect on the Iranian people... If you start the talks with these (actions), the talks will definitely be fruitful."
But lifting sanctions is likely to be a non-starter for the six powers.
Tehran, which announced a breakthrough in its nuclear technology, says they are having little impact.
It says trade and other sanctions imposed since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the US-backed shah have made the country stronger.
But Sky's Tim Marshall said of the President Ahmadinejad's offer: "This shows the sanctions are really beginning to hurt. The offer, though, is a non-starter.
"The six believe the only reason the Iranians have come to the talks is because the sanctions are biting."