Six countries trying to address concerns about Iran's nuclear programme met to review developments, and officials urged Iran to agree to talks before the UN General Assembly meets later this month.
The meeting took place yesterday near Frankfurt and involved political directors -- Foreign Ministry officials below ministerial level -- from the US, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany.
It was scheduled before Iran's main nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, told reporters on Tuesday that his nation would present new proposals and would open talks "in order to ease common concerns in the international arena". Jalili gave no details.
"We took note of the fact that Dr Jalili has made a statement ... offering talks," the German political director, Volker Stanzel, said after yesterday's meeting in remarks carried by RTL television.
"And I expect him to accept our offer to talk, to go into a dialogue on a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear question, before the United Nations General Assembly Week at the end of September."
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that the six nations had "a constructive meeting and most of the focus was on ways to get Iran back to the table."
{{/usCountry}}In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that the six nations had "a constructive meeting and most of the focus was on ways to get Iran back to the table."
{{/usCountry}}He echoed Stanzel's position on Jalili's statement, saying the countries "stressed that Iran should respond to the offer ... by agreeing to meet before the UN General Assembly meeting".