Solana urges US to talk to Tehran

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged the US to engage in direct talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Speaking in Brussels at the weekend, he said he was convinced Iran wanted to talk with Washington.

“We have to see how far the US is willing to engage,” he said.

“I think at this point in time, to have also the US opening a channel of communication with Iran will be worth thinking about.”

Earlier last week, Solana met with Iranian national security advisor Ali Larijani in Ankara.

The US has refused to hold direct talks until Tehran halts its uranium enrichment. Iran, however, says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.

Solana said that his discussions with Larijani had suggested there was “some potential motion”.

“It is very difficult to continue in a situation where Iran is considered a country with whom you cannot organise some sort of dialogue,” said Solana, who was speaking at a gathering of European and US foreign policy experts.

“I think that would be good. I am going to Washington in the next few days about that.”

When asked about the challenges in dealing with Iran, he said, “we have many important hurdles to overcome. I think we have to be tenacious.”

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