World Powers Want New Nuclear Talks with Iran Soon

By VOA News

Six world powers have agreed to seek renewed talks on Iran's contested nuclear program as fast as possible, reflecting a renewed sense of urgency to resolve Tehran's disputed nuclear activity.

A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday after talks between senior diplomats from Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany that the group was "committed to having another round of talks with Iran as soon as possible."

Analysts warn that a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution is narrowing because of growing alarm over Tehran's nuclear activities in Israel. Experts say any Israeli air strikes, which many believe would escalate into a wider Middle East war, is unlikely before Israel's January 22 election, giving the six powers some time for diplomacy.

Israel, the Middle East's only nuclear power, has refused to rule out a military strike on Iran to stop it from also getting the bomb.

The last high-level talks attended by Iran, which all but failed, were held in Moscow in June, with Tehran rejecting Western calls for it to scale back its nuclear program which the West suspects is a cover for efforts to build an atomic bomb.