European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton issued the following statement on behalf of the world's six major powers about the talks with Iran, which were held in Istanbul on April 14, 2012:
The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, together with the Political Directors of China, France, Germany, Russian Federation, United States and the United Kingdom, met on 14 April 2012 in Istanbul with the Iranian nuclear negotiator Dr. Saed Jalili in order to address the international community's concerns on the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program.
The parties would, first of all, like to thank the Turkish government for hosting the talks.
The discussions on the Iranian nuclear issue have been constructive and useful, reflecting the terms and spirit of our recent exchange of letters with Iran. We have agreed that the NPT forms a key basis for what must be serious engagement, to ensure all the obligations under the NPT are met by Iran while fully respecting Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
We want now to move to a sustained process of serious dialogue, where we can take urgent practical steps to build confidence and lead on to compliance by Iran with all its international obligations. In our efforts to do so, we will be guided by the principle of the step-by-step approach and reciprocity.
We expect that subsequent meetings will lead to concrete steps towards a comprehensive negotiated solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. This is why we will meet again soon, on 23 May in Baghdad, preceded by a preparatory meeting of deputies.
Press Briefing by White House Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes
MR. RHODES: We believe, from what we understand to have taken place, that the talks today in Istanbul have been a positive first step, that there was a constructive atmosphere, that the Iranians came to the table and engaged in a discussion about their nuclear program, which of course has been the focus of the P5-plus-1 over the course of the last year -- over a year that there have not been these negotiations. There's also -- my understanding -- going to be a follow-on meeting in late May, which is an additional positive sign that there is room to negotiate and have additional discussions about how Iran can live up to its obligations…
We also feel like in today's talks the P5-plus-1 was unified in sending a clear message to Iran that they need to demonstrate the peaceful intent of their program. They were also unified in reaffirming that the Non-Proliferation Treaty has got to be the foundation of the relationship between Iran and the international community with regard to its nuclear program. Currently, Iran has not been able to demonstrate that it's fully in compliance with the NPT, so it will be important for the Iranians to take steps to build the confidence of the international community.
Q Is the White House happy about the steps that were taken today? I mean, is it a pretty optimistic outlook forecast?
MR. RHODES: Yes, we believe that this was a positive step forward today; that, again, the right issues were on the agenda; that there was a discussion of the Iranian nuclear program; that there was a demonstration of a seriousness of purpose by the Iranians and the international community. And now what we're doing is building out the agenda going forward and a set of meetings that will include both technical meetings and then an additional meeting of P5-plus-1 and the Iranians later in May. So this is obviously not the type of issue that you resolve in one meeting, but we believe that we have set a course whereby we can give diplomacy a very serious and firm commitment as we seek to resolve this longstanding issue.
Q I have another question for Ben just following up on Iran. I'm wondering if you can provide us with some details on the report that the U.S. attempted to have a bilateral -- wanted to have like a bilateral set-aside with Iran during the meetings in Istanbul, and Iran said no.
MR. RHODES: We were not particularly seeking a bilateral meeting as a part of this set of meetings in Istanbul. We have certainly indicated we are open to having a bilateral discussion with the Iranians in the appropriate venue and time, and in that context, could have had a bilateral meeting with them in Istanbul. However, we fully expected to come in today and present our views in the plenary sessions of the P5-plus-1, and that's what Wendy Sherman, the President's representative at these talks, did. We were fully able to communicate directly to the Iranians within the context of the P5-plus-1.
That's important for a number of reasons. Number one, because the Iranians were able to hear directly from the United States our views of the nuclear issue and our views of these negotiations.Number two, because it's important that the P5-plus-1 demonstrate the unity of the international community so that the Iranians are hearing not just from one country but from a chorus of countries that they need to come in line with their obligations. That's been the basis for not just these talks but the basis for the sanctions that we've put in place on the Iranians.
Going forward, we're certainly open to continued discussions within the P5-plus-1, and in that context, we'd be open to a bilateral meeting with the Iranians. But again, our belief today is that they clearly heard our views, we clearly heard their views and had an exchange on the question of their nuclear program and how to go forward with this diplomacy, and now we believe there's space to continue that in the weeks ahead leading to the next meeting in Baghdad.
Q And what should Israel take away from what you've conveyed here and presumably to them?
MR. RHODES: Well, I think the message from Israel has been one of great concern about the Iranian nuclear program. It's a concern we share. And I think we have communicated -- we, the United States along with Israel -- that there needs to be a sense of urgency, that there is a time and space that exists now for diplomacy but it's not unlimited. Therefore, in these coming meetings, we want to see concrete proposals put forward about how the Iranians can build the confidence of the international community that their program is peaceful. We want to see concrete steps taken by the Iranians to demonstrate that their program is peaceful. We've indicated, along with the P5-plus-1, that we'd be open to a step-by-step process in reciprocal action if the Iranians demonstrate that seriousness.
But again, I think what the United States believes, what Israel believes and what the international community believes is that these talks have a very important role to play in resolving the issue, that there is some time and space to move forward with them, but that time is not unlimited because there is a sense of urgency around Iran continuing to be outside of their international commitments.
Q You mentioned -- on Iran, you mentioned that you had the chance to hear what they had to say. What did they have to say?
MR. RHODES: Well, I wouldn't characterize the Iranian views within the diplomatic negotiation. What I would say is that the Iranians have -- the Supreme Leader, in fact, has stated that Iran believes it's sinful to develop nuclear weapons. Our view is if that's the case then they should be able take concrete steps that demonstrate that their program is peaceful -- if that is, indeed, their policy, then they need to prove that that's their policy, because thus far they have not provided the type of access and the type of assurances that bring them in line with existing obligations that they have to the international community.
The Iranians are clearly concerned about the sanctions that are coming into place. Those sanctions are set to dramatically increase as they ramp up through the spring, particularly as you have an EU oil embargo that is set to take hold in July. However, our message to the Iranians is in order to -- that frankly, that those sanctions are going to move forward if they are not in line with their international obligations, so that, therefore, the onus is on the Iranians in the context of all this pressure to take steps to build the confidence of the international community.
So, again, we understand out of this meeting that the Iranians have an expressed view in terms of their intent to develop nuclear weapons, which they say they’re not doing. We understand that they're very concerned about sanctions because, frankly, these are the toughest sanctions that we've ever seen imposed on the Iranians. But the best way for them to deal with that is to take concrete steps that can, again, make it clear they're coming into line with their international obligations and making it clear that their nuclear program is only going to be used for peaceful purposes.
Q You mentioned -- on Iran, you mentioned that you had the chance to hear what they had to say. What did they have to say?
MR. RHODES: Well, I wouldn't characterize the Iranian views within the diplomatic negotiation. What I would say is that the Iranians have -- the Supreme Leader, in fact, has stated that Iran believes it's sinful to develop nuclear weapons. Our view is if that's the case then they should be able take concrete steps that demonstrate that their program is peaceful -- if that is, indeed, their policy, then they need to prove that that's their policy, because thus far they have not provided the type of access and the type of assurances that bring them in line with existing obligations that they have to the international community.
The Iranians are clearly concerned about the sanctions that are coming into place. Those sanctions are set to dramatically increase as they ramp up through the spring, particularly as you have an EU oil embargo that is set to take hold in July. However, our message to the Iranians is in order to -- that frankly, that those sanctions are going to move forward if they are not in line with their international obligations, so that, therefore, the onus is on the Iranians in the context of all this pressure to take steps to build the confidence of the international community.
So, again, we understand out of this meeting that the Iranians have an expressed view in terms of their intent to develop nuclear weapons, which they say they’re not doing. We understand that they're very concerned about sanctions because, frankly, these are the toughest sanctions that we've ever seen imposed on the Iranians. But the best way for them to deal with that is to take concrete steps that can, again, make it clear they're coming into line with their international obligations and making it clear that their nuclear program is only going to be used for peaceful purposes.