Iran wants to discuss dates to start nuclear talks

Reuters
October 15, 2010 09:58 GMT 

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Iran wants to discuss specific dates for resuming talks with six major powers on its nuclear programme after a European Union offer to meet in mid-November, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Friday.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton proposed Vienna on Thursday as the venue for three-day talks involving the United States, Germany, Russia, France, Britain and China.
"As you are fully aware recently I announced that October or November from our point of view is a good time to restart talks between Iran and the 5+1 (major powers)," Mottaki told reporters during a visit to Brussels.

"It is good news that authorities here are following the matter. This is the way to coordinate some specific, fixed date for starting talks," he said before international talks on supporting economic development in Pakistan and fighting terrorism.
Talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany have been frozen since they broke down in October last year, leading to a toughening of international sanctions.

The United States and its European allies fear Iran's civilian nuclear energy programme is a cover to develop the capability of producing nuclear weapons.
Iran says it needs nuclear fuel-making technology to generate electricity and denies it is developing atomic arms.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili wrote to Ashton on July 6, calling for a resumption of talks, and Mottaki said on October 9 that late October or early November was an appropriate time for the talks.
But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has set conditions for further talks. He says a greater variety of countries should be involved, the parties must say whether they seek friendship or hostility with Iran, and must express a view on Israel's alleged nuclear arsenal.

(Reporting by Justyna Pawlak, writing by Timothy Heritage, editing by Rex Merrifield and Charles Dick)