Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
European Union (EU)
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has taken the lead in recent dialogue with Iran concerning its nuclear program. Solana has been tasked by the UN Security Council (China, England, France Russia, and U.S.) and Germany to negotiate with Iran. The EU relies on the “twin-track” diplomatic approach of imposing sanctions for noncompliance with UN resolutions while at the same time pursuing diplomatic dialogue. Since the latest round of UN sanctions on March 24, Solana has held public talks with Iranian nuclear officials five times.
October 24, 2007 – Solana and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi meet with outgoing nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and his successor Saeed Jalili in Rome. Difficulties arise as Larijani, instead of Jalili, appears to lead the Iranian negotiation team. Solana warns that “multiple players” could complicate negotiations further.
June 23, 2007 – Solana meets with Larijani in Lisbon, Portugal, however the talks fail to break a deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear program. While Solana suggests the leaders should meet again in three weeks, the talks stall after the visit.
May 31, 2007 – Following a four-hour meeting between Solana and Larijani in Madrid, Larijani states that Iran might be willing to cooperate better with the IAEA.
April 25, 2007 – EU and Iranian officials confirm encouraging progress in talks between Solana and Larijani in Ankara, Turkey.
March 27, 2007 – Solana and Larijani discuss over the phone a second round of UN sanctions imposed on March 24. The call focuses on reestablishing contacts and emphasizing the international community’s willingness to work toward a mutual agreement.
Individual European Countries
European states have continually met with Iranian officials to discuss the Iranian nuclear program, the Middle East peace process, and bilateral relations.
October 27, 2007 – Germany: Iranian officials request a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Hamburg. Steinmeier appeals to Larijani and Jalili to continue their talks with Solana and IAEA director Mohamed El Baradei.
September 23, 2007 – France: On the sidelines of the UN general Assembly, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki address the Iranian nuclear program. The meeting comes after comments made by Kouchner stating French preparation for "war" against Iran as a worst-case scenario. Kouchner emphasizes his willingness to visit Tehran and discuss nuclear disagreements.
May 7-8, 2007 – Sweden & Norway: Mottaki meets with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson in Stockholm to discuss new rounds of UN sanctions imposed in March. Mottaki later meets with Norwegian Foreign Minister Store to discuss Iranian payments for firebomb damages to the Swedish embassy in Tehran in February.
May 4, 2007 – Britain: At a regional conference in Sharm El-Sheik, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and Mottaki discuss issues to be resolved before the countries can maintain a normal bilateral relationship, including the release of British Naval personnel being held in Iran, and Iranian involvement in the Middle East peace process.
September 20, 2006 – Britain & Finland: On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York Beckett and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Reza Bagheri discuss the Iranian nuclear program. In addition, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, representing the EU presidency, meets with Mottaki and states that “a negotiated settlement is still in the cards” in terms of Iranian compliance with UN Security Resolutions 1696, 1737, and 1747.
May 3, 2006 – Germany, Britain, France, & EU: Solana, Steinmeier, Beckett, and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy meet Larijani in Vienna ahead of the IAEA’s appearance at the UN Security Council. The European ministers emphasize the need for Iranian termination of its uranium enrichment program, however the sides do not form an agreement.
United States
U.S. and Iranian officials have begun to hold talks focused on internal Iraqi security. The U.S. would agree to discussions concerning the Iranian nuclear program only on conditions that Iran halts centrifuge activities including uranium enrichment.
July 24, 2007: U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker meets with the Iranian Ambassador Hassan Kazemi- Qomi in Baghdad. While Crocker accuses Iran of supporting local militias, the two sides simultaneously agree to join a tri-lateral subcommittee to handle internal Iraqi security issues.
May 28, 2007: The U.S. and Iran hold the highest level meeting of diplomats since the Iranian takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979. Crocker and Qomi meet in Baghdad to discuss internal Iraqi security. Later both leaders describe the talks as “positive”.
May 4, 2007: While attending the conference in Sharm El-Sheik U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker and David Satterfield, senior adviser on Iraq to Condoleezza Rice, briefly discuss the situation in Iraq with Bagheri. Rice plans to meet Mottaki at dinner, however the Iranian Foreign Minister leaves before Rice arrives.