The Bush administration has postponed its pursuit of sanctions against Iran for "a few weeks" to allow EU allies additional time to try to negotiate a suspension of uranium enrichment and reprocessing with the regime.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told Secretary Rice in a telephone conversation before meeting with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in Berlin that Larijani "seems to be sincere" in trying to find a compromise, U.S. officials said. The five-hour talks were described as intensive. The two men planned to meet again today. Officials said that Solana suggested a little more time to negotiate might pay off, and that Rice agreed.
"Our response was, 'Absolutely, if it's a matter of a few days, a few weeks here to see if there is a possibility of keeping open a negotiated diplomatic solution,' " State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. "We want to give that every opportunity to succeed." The administration had given Tehran an Aug. 31 deadline and threatened to push for sanctions. China and Russia have been firm in refusing to join in any punitive move.
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