Talks between European negotiators and Iranian officials concerning Iran’s nuclear program have reached a dead end, according to news reports, but they are set to resume again shortly.
Iranian officials met with officials from the United Kingdom, France and Germany in Vienna. The European countries are offering Iran civil nuclear technology providing Iran agrees to abandon uranium enrichment which can be used for both fuel and for weapons.
Iran has been under close international scrutiny over the past two years for its alleged involvement in creating nuclear weapons. However, Iran claims its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes only.
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, the negotiators failed to reach an agreement on a European proposal for Tehran to end its uranium enrichment program.
Iranian team-member Sirousi Nasseri said the talks were held in a “friendly atmosphere and in goodwill,” and that the parties had agreed to continue the talks in their future meetings.
The talks were held ahead of a crucial meeting on November 25 in which the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, will discuss whether to refer the Iranian issue to the United Nations Security Council, which may impose sanctions on Iran.