Iran says it is bringing "new initiatives" to Saturday's nuclear talks with the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says these new negotiations must be more than both sides talking around each other without ever coming to an agreement.
Secretary Clinton says foreign ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations are united in their resolve that Iran come to Saturday's talks prepared to take concrete action on its nuclear program.
Iran's official IRNA news agency quotes chief negotiator Saeed Jalili as saying Iranian representatives will bring "new initiatives" to Turkey and "are ready to hold successful and progressive talks on cooperation."
Secretary Clinton says the international community is looking for a sustained process that delivers results.
"We are receiving signals that they are bringing ideas to the table," said Clinton. "They assert that their program is purely peaceful. They point to a fatwa that the supreme leader has issued against the pursuit of nuclear weapons. We want them to demonstrate clearly in the actions they propose that they have truly abandoned any nuclear weapons ambition."
In coming to the table, Secretary Clinton says Iran needs to demonstrate its seriousness. Like all countries, U.S. officials say Iran has the right to peaceful, civilian nuclear power but must first credibly address international concerns about its nuclear ambitions, especially refining uranium beyond 20 percent.
Regional analysts say the European-Union-led negotiations may include offers to delay further efforts to dry up Iranian oil markets in exchange for Tehran closing its Fordo uranium enrichment plant.
Secretary Clinton says the window for a diplomatic resolution will not stay open forever.
"We are looking for concrete results," she said. "And of course, in a negotiation, we understand that the Iranians will be asking for assurances or actions from us, and we will certainly take those under consideration."
Germany and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council meet Friday for preliminary talks ahead of Saturday's session with Iran. In a written statement, China's Foreign Ministry is urging "flexibility and sincerity" so as to open a dialogue that can be continued.
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