Germany welcomes US attendance at Iran nuclear talks in Geneva

Berlin, July 19, IRNA - The German government here Friday welcomed America's participation at Saturday's European Union-led nuclear talks with Iran in the Swiss city of Geneva.

"From our point of view, it is a very strong signal and we are
welcoming it. It also underscores that the US is taking tomorrow's
meeting seriously," deputy foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke told journalists at the weekly press briefing in Berlin.

He also reaffirmed his German "support" for Washington's participation in the nuclear discussions.

In a major shift from a long-standing policy, the State Department
announced Wednesday Under Secretary of State William Burns, the
third-highest US diplomat, would join the 5 plus 1 talks with Iran's
top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili.

Meanwhile, Peschke expressed hoped that Iran would "react
constructively" to the western cooperation offer in a bid to overcome
the present impasse over Tehran's nuclear program.