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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US pessimistic on Iran overtures | US pessimistic on Iran overtures |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The US secretary of state has said Washington is still willing to engage with Iran but that unrest there means Tehran is currently unable to respond. | The US secretary of state has said Washington is still willing to engage with Iran but that unrest there means Tehran is currently unable to respond. |
| Hillary Clinton told the BBC the US was waiting for an answer to its overtures, but Iran did not have "any capacity to make that kind of decision right now". | Hillary Clinton told the BBC the US was waiting for an answer to its overtures, but Iran did not have "any capacity to make that kind of decision right now". |
| Mrs Clinton recently warned that Iran's time to respond was limited. | Mrs Clinton recently warned that Iran's time to respond was limited. |
| The US accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons but Tehran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. | The US accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons but Tehran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. |
| Mousavi group | |
| "We haven't had any response," Mrs Clinton told the BBC's state department correspondent Kim Ghattas. | "We haven't had any response," Mrs Clinton told the BBC's state department correspondent Kim Ghattas. |
| "We've certainly reached out and made it clear that's what we'd be willing to do, even now, despite our absolute condemnation of what they've done in the [12 June presidential] election and since, but I don't think they have any capacity to make that kind of decision right now." | "We've certainly reached out and made it clear that's what we'd be willing to do, even now, despite our absolute condemnation of what they've done in the [12 June presidential] election and since, but I don't think they have any capacity to make that kind of decision right now." |
| The nuclear clock is ticking Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State | |
| The Iranian opposition has accused President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of rigging the outcome of the poll, which saw Mr Ahmadinejad returned to office. | The Iranian opposition has accused President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of rigging the outcome of the poll, which saw Mr Ahmadinejad returned to office. |
| Days of streets protests against the results were violently suppressed, drawing widespread condemnation from around the world. | Days of streets protests against the results were violently suppressed, drawing widespread condemnation from around the world. |
| One of the most prominent defeated presidential candidates, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has meanwhile announced plans to create a new broad-based political front. | |
| Mr Mousavi said the front would have a charter and would be a way of giving the opposition movement a legal political framework. | |
| Hundreds of people remain in detention in the wake of clashes which erupted after the election results were made public. | Hundreds of people remain in detention in the wake of clashes which erupted after the election results were made public. |
| 'Serious discussion' | 'Serious discussion' |
| Since coming to power at the beginning of this year, US President Barack Obama has spoken of engaging with Iran - in contrast to the policy of his predecessor, George W Bush. | Since coming to power at the beginning of this year, US President Barack Obama has spoken of engaging with Iran - in contrast to the policy of his predecessor, George W Bush. |
| In March, Mr Obama offered "a new beginning" to the Iranian people and leaders, saying his administration was committed to diplomacy. | In March, Mr Obama offered "a new beginning" to the Iranian people and leaders, saying his administration was committed to diplomacy. |
| However, Mrs Clinton said: "The internal debates going on in Iran make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to pursue any diplomatic engagement." | However, Mrs Clinton said: "The internal debates going on in Iran make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to pursue any diplomatic engagement." |
| She warned that there was not "an unlimited window of opportunity here - the nuclear clock is ticking and we know we've got to press Iran to begin a serious discussion about its intentions concerning nuclear power". | She warned that there was not "an unlimited window of opportunity here - the nuclear clock is ticking and we know we've got to press Iran to begin a serious discussion about its intentions concerning nuclear power". |
| Tehran insists its programme is solely for civilian purposes, but the US and other Western countries say Iran is covertly pursuing atomic weapons. | Tehran insists its programme is solely for civilian purposes, but the US and other Western countries say Iran is covertly pursuing atomic weapons. |