国际英语新闻：World powers fail to reach agreement with Iran on nuclear program

ISTANBUL, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Six world powers wrapped up crucial nuclear talks with Iran but failed to reach any agreement on Iranian nuclear program here on Saturday.

Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, said at a press conference that she was disappointed because Iran set preconditions.

"We came forward without any preconditions to find ways to cooperate," Ashton said, adding that it soon became clear that unless the so-called G5+1 group agreed to Iran's preconditions on the right to enrichment and sanctions, there would be no resolution.

"But these preconditions are not the way to proceed," she noted.

Ashton said many compromises had been offered, from an updated uranium fuel swap agreement to a separate meeting with the Vienna Group. However, she added the international community demanded greater transparency on the matter and IAEA had not been able to certify the exclusive peaceful nature of Iran's program.

"We expected Iran to have a pragmatic attitude and respond positively," she said, "This is not the conclusion I had hoped for. "

However, she said that doors and telephone lines remain open to Iran. But she said there is no plan for further talks in near future.

Ashton headed the G5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council including the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, plus Germany. Iran is represented by Saeed Jalili, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

The new round of talks on Iran's nuclear program took place in Ciragan Palace, Istanbul between Friday and Saturday. Diplomats here ascribed the failure to the preconditions set by the Iranian side for the two-day close-door dialogue. The Iranian side, for the first time, agreed to talk about its nuclear program on the table, but it demanded the world powers to recognize Iran's right to develop nuclear program and lift the sanctions.

Shortly after the statement by the European diplomat, Jalili held another press conference at the media center and responded that the "preconditions" proposed by Iran were actually its non- negotiable rights.

"These are not preconditions, but rights," Jalili said, calling for a common judgement between the parties in order to benefit negotiations.