Baird holds Iran talks on with diplomats, warns of stalling tactic on nukes

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird held talks today with representatives of the six Western countries trying to negotiate an end to the nuclear standoff with Iran.

Officials say Baird expressed Canada’s concern that Iran might use the talks as a stalling tactic, but added there’s still hope for a peaceful solution to the ongoing problem.

Baird delivered that message to ambassadors and senior diplomats for the six front-line negotiating countries during a 30-minute meeting on Parliament Hill.

Iran says it is developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes, but Western countries, including Canada, believe it is pursuing a nuclear weapon.

The six-country group — Germany plus the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — are to meet with Iran in Moscow in the coming week.

Baird and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have recently taken to stressing the need for a diplomatic solution to the Iran situation, toning down some previously hawkish rhetoric.