Top diplomats from six world powers are holding talks
Wednesday on Iran's nuclear program, a day after Tehran announced the launch of
its first satellite into orbit.
Envoys from France, Germany, the United
States, China, Russia and Britain, meeting in the city of Wiesbaden, are
reviewing diplomatic efforts to get Iran to stop enriching uranium.
It is
the first meeting of the group since U.S. President Barack Obama took office
last month.
The United States and some European countries expressed
concern after Tehran announced an Iranian-made rocket had carried a domestically
built satellite into orbit late Monday.
Experts say the same ballistic
technology used to put the probe into space could also be used in long-range
missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Iran's Foreign Ministry
spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi, Wednesday dismissed concerns over the space launch,
telling reporters the satellite launch is a scientific achievement with "no
military aims."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday called the
launch, which came as Iran marks the 30th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution,
a step toward peace and justice.
A White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs,
Tuesday said there is "acute concern" over Iran's actions. He told reporters the
United States "will use all elements" of its national power to deal with
Iran.
A U.N. resolution prohibits Iran from engaging in any
missile-related activity, which Western countries fear could eventually be used
to launch a nuclear weapon.
Iran says its nuclear program is only for
peaceful purposes.
Some information for this report was provided by
AFP and Reuters.