N-programme: Iran may agree to talks

Confronted with significant international pressure, Iran signaled on Friday that it was prepared to give negotiations a try before making a final decision about resuming its nuclear program and responded positively to a European offer of a meeting to reduce tensions, US, European and Iranian diplomats said.

But diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic said they were uncertain whether there was enough common ground for a meeting to take place between Iranian and European officials. US and European diplomats, who discussed the issue on condition of anonymity, said the only way out of the escalation would be a retreat by Iran from plans to quickly restart a uranium conversion facility at Isfahan.

If that doesn’t happen, Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday that Britain would support US efforts to involve the United Nations Security Council in the dispute.

Away from cameras, US officials began mapping scenarios for a possible emergency session of the IAEA next week to discuss Iran.

—LAT-WP