The European Union and Iran were to hold a fourth round...

The European Union and Iran were to hold a fourth round of talks on human rights, as EU diplomats admitted their efforts to engage the Islamic republic had so far failed to stem widespread abuses. The dialogue, which began in December 2002, was part of an ambitious EU bid to engage the clerical regime on a string of sensitive topics, including nuclear proliferation, the Middle East peace process and terrorism. On human rights, the dialogue had been credited with paving the way for a de facto moratorium on stoning as well as unprecedented visits by United Nations human rights rapporteurs. "There has been little or no real progress. It is frustrating, and the only thing we can be credited with is keeping human rights on the agenda," a senior European diplomat said.