Top U.S. diplomat to meet with Iran's nuclear negotiator

Posted By Blake Hounshell Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:43 PM Share

In a break with past Bush administration policy, a top U.S. diplomat will for the first time join colleagues from other world powers at a weekend meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator... William Burns, America's third highest-ranking diplomat, will attend talks with the Iranian envoy, Saeed Jalili, in Switzerland on Saturday aimed at persuading Iran to halt activities that could lead to the development of atomic weapons, a senior U.S. official told the AP on Tuesday.

I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet for this move. As the official told the AP, "This is a one-time event and [Burns] will be there to listen, not negotiate... [O]ur terms for negotiations remain the same: Iran must suspend its enrichment and reprocessing activities."

The diplomats will be looking to hear Iran's answer to the latest package of incentives offered by the P5+1 (the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany). Judging by the Islamic Republic's initial response (pdf), we're likely to hear a lot of bluster and claims that Iran is being treated unfairly. But who knows? Maybe Burns's presence could change the dynamic.

EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, BUSH ADMINISTRATION, DIPLOMACY, IRAN, NUKES, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

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HASS

11:31 PM ET

July 15, 2008

Bias showing again

"Bluster and that Iran is being treated unfairly". This insistence on characterizing Iran as a wayward angry child is sort of paternalistic and a mis-characterization of what are quite legitimate concerns by Iran. The Iranians ARE being treated unfairly, and we are the ones who regularly engage in bluster.

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