Iran-US-Nuclear Program
US and Iranian envoys Saturday had their highest-level diplomatic contact in 29 years, but the seven-nation gathering in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear program did not make an immediate breakthrough.

US Undersecretary of State William J. Burns joined European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and other diplomats encouraged Iran represented by Saeed Jalili to agree to a deal aimed at negotiating an end to dispute over Iranian nuclear program.

Even before the meeting, Iran's ambassador to Switzerland, Keyvan Imani, said Tehran remained opposed to suspension of enrichment, which it says is allowed it as a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

"It is not in Iran's agenda to discuss this issue," Imani told reporters.

Jalili, Iran's nuclear negotiator, offered a more upbeat account of the meeting, saying afterward that the talks were "constructive and progressing," and that "on the manner of continuing the negotiations, we have understood better our mutual positions."
Although Europeans and Americans have described the package of potential economic and political incentives as generous, some analysts say it lacks a key element: a promise that the US would renounce any plans to attempt to topple Iran's government.

"The main issue for Tehran is the security guarantee, and that is lacking," said an Iranian political analyst.

"Iranian and American problems are security problems, not diplomatic ones."
The senior US official emphasized that by sending Burns, Washington had hoped to accomplish several goals, including provoking a new debate among Iranians about the advantages of accepting the package of incentives, and increasing the unity of the six other nations.

Tehran says it needs nuclear power for its growing population's electricity needs.

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