US nuclear talks with Iran urged

BBC

Senators in the US have said the Bush administration should hold direct talks with Iran on its nuclear programme.
The calls for bilateral talks contrast with the president's multilateral approach through the UN.

Richard Lugar, the Republican chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, also said it was too soon to press for sanctions.

The UN Security Council is due to meet later this month to discuss Iran, which says it has produced enriched uranium.

Iran made the announcement last week, despite being given 30 days by the council to halt all sensitive atomic activities.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said the Security Council would have to look at options to compel Iran to "obey the international system".

But Sen Lugar said on Sunday it would be "useful" for the US to hold direct talks with Iran.

He said on US television: "The Iranians are a part of the energy picture. We need to talk about that."

Another senator, Christopher Dodd, agreed: "I happen to believe you need direct talks. It doesn't mean you agree with them.... But there's an option."