(6 Sep 2006)
1. Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister and Lamin Kaba Bajo, his Gambian counterpart entering room and shaking hands
2. Two Foreign ministers approaching the lectern
3. Close up of journalist taking notes
4. Cameramen at news conference
5. SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Iran welcomes Mr. Solana's proposal for talks with Mr. Larijani."
6. Manouchehr Mottaki and Lamin Kaba Bajo at news conference
7. SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Short-time suspension of uranium enrichment is on the Mr. Solana - Larijani meeting agenda. As soon as the time is finalised we will inform the public."
8. Press conference taking place
9. SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Constructive, transparent and fair negotiations is the best way for solving any ambiguities that the other side (European and western countries) has in its mind."
10. Manouchehr Mottaki and Lamin Kaba Bajo at news conference
11. SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Those who posses nuclear warheads in their plants are not in a position to comment about other countries benefiting from peaceful nuclear energy. "
12. Manouchehr Mottaki and Lamin Kaba Bajo walking away from lecterns
13. Foreign ministers shaking hands
14. Various of meeting taking place between Manouchehr Mottaki and Lamin Kaba Bajo
STORYLINE
Iran's foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday that his country welcomed EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's proposal to hold talks with the Iranian nuclear envoy Ali Larijani on the nuclear impasse.
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran with his Gambian counterpart Lamin Kaba Bajo, he indicated that short-time suspension of uranium enrichment can be discussed at the meeting.
Solana was ready to fly to the Austrian capital Vienna for talks on the crisis on Wednesday, but the meeting was left hanging by uncertainty over whether Iranian nuclear envoy Ali Larijani would come.
A senior Iranian envoy abruptly announced on Wednesday that last-ditch talks on his country's disputed nuclear programme were postponed, moving Tehran a step closer to UN sanctions after it defied a deadline to freeze uranium enrichment.
The talks had been tentatively set for Wednesday in Vienna as a final attempt to see if there was common ground to start negotiations between Iran and the six nations that have been trying to persuade Iran to limit its nuclear program.
The five permanent council members and Germany, the six powers attempting to entice Iran into negotiating on its nuclear program, had decided to hold off starting work on sanctions until the outcome of any talks between Solana and Larijani.
Senior negotiators of those six countries are expected to meet in Berlin on Thursday to plan their further Iran strategy.
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