European powers urge Iran to continue US nuclear talks

European powers on Friday urged Iran  to continue diplomacy with the United States to find a solution in the  standoff over its nuclear programme as Israel keeps up its bombardment  of the Islamic republic.

 "The good result today is that we leave the room with the impression that the Iranian  side is ready to further discuss all the important questions," said  German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in a statement alongside his  British, French and EU counterparts after talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

"It is of great importance that the United States takes part in these negotiations and the solution," he added.

The statement read by all four top diplomats in their native languages  after the talks expressed hope of further progress but did not make any  mention of a breakthrough in the talks in Geneva.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "We are keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran, and we urge Iran to continue their talks with the United States." "This is a perilous moment, and it is hugely important that we don't see regional escalation of this conflict," he added.

French, British, German and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs talk over lunch at the offices of the honourary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Geneva on Friday. Reuters

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said there "can be no definitive solution through military means to the Iran nuclear problem. Military operations can delay it but they cannot eliminate it."

 After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out  killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Barrot also warned: "It  is illusory and dangerous to want to impose a regime change from the  outside. It is up to the people to decide their own destiny."

"We invited the Iranian  minister to consider negotiations with all sides, including the United  States, without awaiting the cessation of strikes, which we also hope  for," he said.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said for her  part: "Today the regional escalation benefits no-one. We must keep the  discussions open."Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said earlier the Iranian delegation "emphasised that Iran has not left the negotiating table."

Israel began its campaign on Friday last week saying the operation was  aimed at halting Tehran from obtaining an atomic bomb, an ambition Iran denies having.

Iranian strikes launched in response have also caused damage in Israel.

Agence France-Presse