Israel Concerned By U.S. Plans To Meet With Iranian Envoy [View All]

[Purveyor]

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel is concerned by American plans to send a senior envoy to meet with a senior Iranian representative to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

"There is a bad feeling in Israel and dissatisfaction with the U.S. move," Israel told senior Washington officials, according to a source in Jerusalem. "There can be no concession on the demand to end uranium enrichment as a precondition to negotiating with Iran," Israel added.

UN Security Council members, Germany and the European Union have been holding regular meetings with Iranian representatives, and U.S. Under Secretary of State William Burns, considered No. 3 in the State Department, will be participating for the first time.
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The U.S. informed Israel of its plans to send Burns to the talks, emphasizing that this is a one-time meeting and not a change in policy.

The source said the Americans considered the talks "feelers" to test whether it should be speaking with Iran.

HAARETZ: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1002762.html