LONDON - The United States and five other powers have invited Iran to a meeting on its nuclear programme after Washington dropped its opposition to direct talks with Tehran in a major change of policy.
The United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain said in a statement they would ask European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to invite Tehran to the talks to find “a diplomatic solution to this critical issue”.
Breaking with US policy of shunning direct talks with Iran, President Barack Obama’s administration said the US would join in nuclear discussions with Iran from now on.
“We strongly urge Iran to take advantage of this opportunity to engage seriously with all of us in a spirit of mutual respect,” the six powers said after a meeting of senior diplomats in London.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States would be a “full participant” in major power talks with Iran.
“Obviously we believe that pursuing very careful engagement on a range of issues that affect our interests and the interests of the world with Iran makes sense. There is nothing more important than trying to convince Iran to cease its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Clinton told reporters in Washington.
An official in Solanas office said contacts would now be taken up with the Iranian government to arrange a meeting.
– (Reuters)