IRAN: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW HOLDS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATEMI
Record ID:
222868
IRAN: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW HOLDS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATEMI
- Title: IRAN: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW HOLDS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATEMI
- Date: 1st July 2003
- Summary: (W3) TEHRAN, IRAN (JUNE 30, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PRESIDENTIAL PALACE 0.05 2. MV BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW SHAKING HANDS WITH IRAN'S PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATEMI; MV STRAW INTRODUCING BRITISH OFFICIALS; MV/SCU PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERA CREWS (3 SHOTS) 0.49 3. MV STRAW AND KHATEMI SAT TALKING; MV KHATEMI TALKING; SCU STRAW TALKING (4 SHOTS) 1.23 4. MV OFFICIALS; MV STRAW AND KHATEMI SAT TALKING 1.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th July 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TEHRAN, IRAN
- Country: Iran
- Reuters ID: LVA84QNYKTADDGQ8DA4KT6N53JK1
- Story Text: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw held talks with
Iran's President Mohammed Khatemi during his fourth visit in
two years as global pressure mounts on Iran to sign an
additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Britain's Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, met Iranian
President Mohammed Khatemi at the presidential palace in
Tehran on Monday (June 30). On Sunday Straw said that
Tehran's failure to allow fuller inspections of its nuclear
sites could damage international confidence in Iran and its
trade with the European Union.
The International Atomic Energy Agency this month
criticised Iran's failure to declare parts of its nuclear
programme, but stopped short of U.S. demands to declare it in
violation of its treaty commitments which could have led to
U.N. sanctions.
The treaty allows more inspections of its nuclear
programme with less prior warning.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi repeated Iran's
denial that its nuclear programme was for anything other than
peaceful purposes and said Tehran wanted access to nuclear
technology before signing the additional protocol.
Despite their close alliance over Iraq, Britain has
differed sharply from the United States on how to deal with
Iran.
While Washington has branded Iran part of an "axis of
evil", London, along with the European Union, has sought to
encourage reform in Iran through dialogue. But the nuclear
dispute has hardened the European Union position.
Straw said progress on a trade and co-operation agreement
between the EU and Iran also depended on issues such as human
rights and weapons of mass destruction.
Nevertheless Britain's Tony Blair was the only EU leader
to voice support for a wave of Iranian protests against
clerical rule this month, which Washington championed.
Britain's ambassador was summoned to hear Tehran's protest.
Straw denied Iranian charges of interference.
Iran's prosecutor-general said some 4,000 people had been
arrested in two weeks of nightly protests condemning Iran's
conservative clergy. Kharrazi praised police efforts.
Straw later on Monday (June 30) was flying into
Afghanistan for talks with President Hamid Karzai.
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