Iran press doubts over nuclear initiative

Iranian newspapers are suspicious about the plan expected to be announced this week by three European countries as part of the effort to get Tehran to give up its nuclear ambitions.

The Iranian government has already cast doubt on the incentives package proposed by Britain, France and Germany, a stand which is largely supported by a cross section of the country's press.

An overriding fear is that the Europeans are subordinate to Washington and are acting under its influence.

The hard-line Jomhuri-ye Eslami believes that the "the US was undoubtedly orchestrating affairs" in recent negotiations between Tehran on the one hand, and London, Paris and Berlin on the other.

Iran can have no faith in EU commitments any longer Tehran Times

"The three European countries proved that they cannot be trusted anymore and they are only carrying out US orders.

"The collusion of the three European countries with America to prevent Iran from obtaining its nuclear technology is a major conspiracy against Iranians."

'No faith'

The conservative English-language daily Tehran Times agrees that "the EU is pursuing the interests of the United States in this case".

"The International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Union and the United States intend to stop uranium enrichment activities in Iran. Europe is not the main party facing Iran in the nuclear issue."

"The European Union has observed none of its commitments regarding Iran's nuclear dossier... Iran can have no faith in EU commitments any longer," concludes the Tehran Times.

Despite claiming to promote science and logic, the Europeans' actions have been shown to contradict these claims Aftab-e Yazd

The reformist Aftab-e Yazd thinks it is acceptable for Iran to discuss the issue with the European countries, while questioning their motives.

"There is nothing wrong with having a dialogue with Europe... We are not holding talks with the Americans or the Zionists."

But Aftab-e Yazd warns that "despite claiming to promote science and logic, on many occasions, the Europeans' actions have been shown to contradict these claims.

"They have shown that they are unfriendly towards us and do not accept rational discussions."

'Six difficult weeks'

The moderate Iran notes that in addition to the EU proposal, a parallel plan has been presented to the G8 group of top industrialised nations.

It quotes EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana as saying: "Iran has six difficult weeks ahead. It can increase cooperation with the world community and the International Atomic Energy Agency in order to end the current differences of opinion about its nuclear case."

The reformist E'temad links the European plan to the US presidential election and a possible victory by challenger John Kerry.

"The EU proposal, which has recently been described as the policy of carrot and stick, and a proposal by Senator John Kerry, the US Democrats presidential candidate, if accepted in America, would show how close the views of the two powers are and would also show a change in the US policy [towards Iran]."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.