Iran ready to reopen nuclear talks

Is Iran’s latest action a genuine move towards reducing tensions over its nuclear programme – or simply a ploy to divert attention from its nuclear activities and buy time to avoid further sanctions?

(Al Jazeera English | Riz Khan | 2 September 2009) – Tehran has announced that it is now ready for talks with world powers, to present a new package of proposals to ease international concerns on its activities.

Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report saying that even though it could not find “smoking gun” proof of a bomb-making agenda in Iran, it did find serious and credible suspicions.

Meanwhile, a September 15 deadline set by Barack Obama, the US president, is looming for Iran to respond to a six-power offer of trade talks, if it halts nuclear fuel production – or face stronger sanctions that could affect its gasoline supplies.

Is Iran’s latest action a genuine move towards reducing tensions over its nuclear programme – or simply a ploy to divert attention from its nuclear activities and buy time to avoid further sanctions?

On Wednesday, Riz speaks with Martin Navias, a defence analyst at King’s College in London, and Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich, an independent Iranian-American writer and peace activist.

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.