INTERVIEW-Britain hopes for 'full' U.S. role in Iran talks
20 Mar 2009 20:30:44 GMT Source: Reuters
* Multilateral process must continue as U.S. expands role * Follows unprecedented Obama videotape appeal to Iranians * Sanctions on Tehran "going ahead ... having an impact." By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - The Obama administration appears to be leaning toward a "full" role in future talks major powers could have with Iran over its nuclear program, Britain's ambassador to the United States said on Friday. In an interview with Reuters, Sir Nigel Sheinwald said total U.S. involvement would be "very helpful" in negotiations with Iran by the six nations involved in the effort -- China, Russia, France, Britain, the United States and Germany. "Certainly we would hope to see our American colleagues playing a full and equal part in the process. But we do think it is important that that multilateral process on the nuclear file is maintained," Sheinwald said. "I think that is the indication that is coming very much from the administration," he added. Sheinwald's comments follow an unprecedented videotaped message overnight by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Iranian people in which he said his administration wanted to pursue "constructive ties" with Tehran. A major U.S. role at international nuclear talks with Iran would be a further sign of the Obama administration's pledge to reach out to Tehran and move sharply away from President George W. Bush's isolation policy. Last year, in a one-off decision, the Bush administration's point person on Tehran sat in for the first time on a meeting with major powers to hear Iran's response to an incentives package offered to give up its sensitive nuclear work. SANCTIONS NOT OFF TABLE As part of a review on Iran strategy, the Obama team is looking at whether to have a permanent place at the table in talks aimed at stopping Iran from building what the West suspects is a nuclear bomb and Tehran says is for peaceful power purposes. No future talks are scheduled for now with Iran under the so-called P5+1 format -- the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany -- but political directors are expected to meet after the Obama administration's Iran review is complete, likely in the coming weeks. "That is what I am assuming -- that a fuller American engagement in that, in the P5+1 process is one of the things that the internal review is now considering," Sheinwald said."Full American involvement in that will be very helpful," he added. Sheinwald said Britain and others had welcomed senior U.S. diplomat Bill Burns' participation last summer in Geneva and wanted that to continue. Burns is still in charge of those multilateral negotiations at the State Department. Sheinwald said he hoped Iran would respond positively to Obama's videotaped overture, warning that the alternative was increased international sanctions if Tehran did not. "There is a great deal of work that has gone on on the economic and financial sanctions, which sadly would have to be reactivated if the Iranian response is not the one that we are seeking." Asked whether it was time to freeze international sanctions in a bid to reduce tensions with Iran, Sheinwald said: "Sanctions are going ahead and they are having an impact." The U.N. Security Council has imposed three rounds of limited sanctions against Tehran. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has indicated the Obama administration will continue the U.S. trend of imposing its own bilateral sanctions as long as Iran refused to give up its sensitive nuclear work. (Editing by Eric Walsh)
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