APNewsBreak: Mideast tensions scuttle IAEA plans for talks on nuke-free zone

APNewsBreak: Planned nuke-free Mideast talks off

VIENNA — Tensions between Israel and Islamic nations have scuttled plans by the U.N. atomic watchdog agency to convene talks this year on a Mideast free of nuclear weapons.

A document from the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency says major differences between Israel and Islamic nations make such talks impossible at this time.

Dated Aug. 31, the document was shared with the AP Wednesday.

It is the latest failure to bring the opposing sides to the table and casts further doubt on plans to hold more substantive talks in two years on such a zone.

That conference was proposed by the U.N.’s 189-nation Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty conference four months ago and was backed by the U.S. and other nuclear powers, despite Israeli objections.