Iran lays out new proposal to revive its nuclear file talks

Iran has laid out a new proposal dealing with its nuclear file, announced here today spokesperson for EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton. The announcement was made at a press conference by the spokesperson Michael Mann at the opening of the nuclear talks between Iran and the group of 5+1 nations. Mann declined to reveal the nature of the new Iranian proposal while acknowledging that the group of 5+1 did not come up with any new proposals itself so far. The talks here are supposed to last 48 hours. Mann said that responses to the new Iranian proposal might or might not be forthcoming right away. The caution taken by the EU regarding the Iranian proposal echoed statements by Ashton last night which counseled against being too optimistic of the results of the talks in Geneva. " the talks will not be more than checking each other's pulse," she said. Nevertheless, she added that all ideas from Iran and the group of five plus one will be on the table of negotiations. Indications are that the time is appropriate under the current conditions to bring the Iranian nuclear file out from its hitherto frozen state. It is easy to notice that Western statements show optimism about a softening of the Iranian stance. This softening was somewhat in evidence last week when Iranian house speaker Ali Larijani said that his country would deal with the utmost transparency on the nuclear issue. He however hoped that the transparency would be rewarded with reduction of economic sanctions against Iran.. Iran insists that it deals with IAEA inspectors much better than some other countries do. Although the talks between Iran and the group of five plus one are officially undergoing in Geneva, the interest of Israel regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions cannot be ignored. There are those who believe that the Western nations look after Israeli interests in these talks, nothing more.