KEY POINTS:
A United States decision to bend policy and sit down with Iran at nuclear talks has fizzled, with Iran stonewalling Washington and five other world powers on their call to freeze uranium enrichment.
Iran's refusal to consider suspending enrichment was an indirect slap at the US, which had
sent UnderSecretary of State William Burns to the talks in hopes the first-time American presence would encourage Tehran into making concessions.
Iran was given a fortnight to agree to freeze its uranium enrichment programme or face further isolation.
After a day of inconclusive talks in Geneva, the six-nation negotiating team warned the Iranian delegation that it had run out of patience and demanded a "yes or no" answer to a proposal it put forward five weeks ago.
Under that offer, sponsored by the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, Iran would not expand its uranium enrichment programme, while the international community refrained from imposing further sanctions. This phase would last six weeks, possibly paving the way for suspension of enrichment and more talks.
Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief leading the international negotiating team, said the talks were "constructive", but admitted: "We didn't get the answer we were hoping for. I hope very much we will get an answer to our question presented five weeks ago and we hope we will get it in two weeks."
Solana would not specify what the consequences would be if there was no positive response from Iran, but Western officials at the talks said there was consensus among the six nations that it would be interpreted as a rejection and trigger a new round of UN Security Council sanctions. "They have been told this is your last meeting. We are not doing this again. Go back to Tehran and you have a week or two at most to give a yes or no," one official said.
Another Western source said: "There was some impatience voiced by a number of people at the meeting that we want a clear answer."
* What happens now?
Is this the end for negotiations?
Not exactly. The Iranian negotiator was told Iran had another two weeks to accept or reject an interim deal, freezing uranium enrichment and sanctions. It was made clear to the Iranians that only a 'yes' would avert more sanctions and isolation.
What happens if Iran says yes?
Iran would stop expanding uranium enrichment, meaning it would not add to the roughly 3000 centrifuges it has spinning at the Natanz facility, enriching uranium gas to make nuclear fuel.
What if Iran says no or fails to respond?
Then there will almost certainly be more sanctions, aimed at banks and travel and the leadership's financial assets. It is unclear what Russia and China would agree to at the UN, but they have said they will not go along with the sort of robust sanctions, targeting Iran's dependence on foreign refineries for its petrol and diesel, favoured by the US and Britain.
Is war now more likely?
Yes, but it is generally thought there is a long way to go before any hostilities. It will strengthen the hand of hawks like Dick Cheney in Washington and give added impetus to Israeli leaders who believe only military action will stop Iran. But, for now, US moderates are in the ascendant.
- OBSERVER, AP