The United States indicated on 18 September 2006 that it would be open to a temporary, verifiable suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment activities as a precondition for entering diplomatic negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.
White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley clarified that Washington was not demanding a permanent halt, only a suspension, before the US would participate in talks with Iran. The negotiations in question involve an incentives package put forward by the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany, a grouping known as the P5-plus-one.
Hadley made his remarks as President George W. Bush traveled to New York for the UN General Assembly. He cautioned against expecting a rapid resolution to the standoff, describing the situation as a long-running process.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to hold a review meeting with her P5-plus-one counterparts as the US continued pushing for a Security Council resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran for failing to comply with international demands set out in a previous resolution. Hadley indicated that no conclusions were expected within two days and that the effort would continue over time.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.