Tag: nuclear talks

Iran nuclear talks to be held in Istanbul

TEHRAN, Feb. 19 (UPI) — Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Sunday nuclear negotiations with members of the U.N. Security Council will take place in Istanbul, Turkey.

Salehi said Iran plans to display good will in the talks with the Group 5+1 — the five permanent members of the council, the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China, plus Germany — IRNA reported.

‘We understand the situation of the other party and are looking for a prestigious way out for the negotiating partners,’ Salehi said in a news conference.

The Turkish venue was approved by European Union Foreign Policy and Security chief Catherine Ashton two months ago, IRNA said.

‘In his letter to Mrs. Ashton, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili has made it clear that Iran is willing to resume talks at the earliest convenience and cited Istanbul as the venue for the talks,’ Salehi said.

via Iran nuclear talks to be held in Istanbul – UPI.com.

February 20, 2012
Russia backs Iran nuke talks to be held in Turkey

(AA)

Russia backs Iran nuke talks to be held in Turkey

Davutoglu said that Turkey’s position with Russia was very similar in Iran issue, adding that talks on Iran’s nuclear program should resume rapidly.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey had never consented targeting neighboring countries like Russia, Iran or Syria within NATO.

Holding a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday, Davutoglu said that Turkey did not launch an initiative to intervene in Iranian issue, adding that Turkey never consented targeting a neighboring country in NATO-related activities.

Iran-Turkey border has always been a border of peace, and it will continue to be so, he added.

Noting that he discussed Iran and Syria issues with Lavrov, Davutoglu said that violence towards civilians should rapidly end in Syria, while implementations of reforms should begin.

Davutoglu said that Turkey’s position with Russia was very similar in Iran issue, adding that talks on Iran’s nuclear program should resume rapidly. He added that Turkey was ready to host the talks, if Iran returned to negotiation table.

Replying to a question on Syria, Lavrov said Russia wanted bloodshed to end there, stating that they were in favor of a peaceful solution to Syrian crisis through political means.

Lavrov said they were against an external military intervention in Syria. Russia would keep seeking a solution in Syria with its foreign partners and all parties in Syria, he said.

Responding another question, Lavrov said they were open to all offers for end of bloodshed in Syria. Russia would not allow unilateral sanctions on Syria, because decisions on these sanctions were made without consulting Russia, China or other countries, he said. Lavrov also said that resolution of Security Council should not be regarded as a permission for external intervention.

Russia and Turkey had almost same position on Iran and Russia wanted this issue to be solved through diplomatic means, he said. Russia was in favor of (nuclear) talks to be held in Turkey, he said.

via Russia backs Iran nuke talks to be held in Turkey | Diplomacy | World Bulletin.

January 26, 2012
Iran welcomes P5+1 talks in Turkey

Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani

Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has welcomed Turkey’s offer to host Tehran’s upcoming comprehensive talks with the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany.

In an interview with Iran’s Arabic-language news channel Al-Alam on Monday, Larijani clarified that Tehran sees no hurdles in holding multifaceted discussions with the P5+1 group of nations – Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany – in Turkey.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu confirmed on January 8 that Iran and the P5+1 have agreed in principle to hold talks in Turkey.

The last round of comprehensive talks between Iran and the P5+1 was held in Turkey’s port city of Istanbul in January 2011.

Referring to the beginning of uranium enrichment in Fordo facility, Larijani said the fuel produced in the Iranian facility is used in the Tehran research reactor since the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) shirked its responsibility to do so.

The IAEA confirmed on January 8 that “Iran has started the production of uranium enriched up to 20%” at its Fordo facility near the holy city of Qom.

Senior American officials and the Israeli regime have repeatedly threatened Tehran with the “option” of a military strike against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran’s nuclear program may include a military diversion, Iran steadfastly insists on the civilian nature of its nuclear program, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

MYA/MB/HJL

via PressTV – Iran welcomes P5+1 talks in Turkey.

January 18, 2012
Ali Larijani accepts Turkey talks offer

Iran has said it has agreed to talks with six world powers on its controversial nuclear programme, days after the UN confirmed Tehran was producing 20% enriched uranium.

Visiting Turkey, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said he had accepted Ankara’s offer to try to restart the talks.

Negotiations have stalled since a meeting in Istanbul a year ago.

Analysts say 20% enrichment is a major step to making nuclear weapons, but Iran says it is for peaceful purposes.

More sanctions have been imposed on Iran since the last talks, with the US and EU targeting its oil revenues.

Mr Larijani was speaking a day after a nuclear scientist was murdered in Tehran, an act that Iran blamed on the US and Israel.

‘Serious’ talks

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara, the Iranian speaker said the attack, the fourth on Iranian scientists, showed “how weak Israel really is”.

“If Israel thinks they can prevent our studies with four terrorist attacks, it’s a very weak way of thinking. Everybody will learn that they can’t stop us with such actions,” he said.

But Mr Larijani said Iran was ready for “serious” talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany.

“The negotiations can yield results if they are serious and not a game,” he said.

However, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was still waiting for Iran to respond to a letter sent last October formally inviting Iran to the talks.

The BBC’s Jonathan Head in Istanbul says Mr Larijani is one of the most influential players in Iran’s opaque political system, so his visit to Turkey carries more weight than his official title would suggest.

It comes at a difficult time for Iran-Turkey relations, with Turkish leaders denouncing the violent suppression of anti-government protests in Syria, and Iran irritated by Turkey’s willingness to host part of a Nato missile defence shield.

But for its part, Turkey still relies heavily on its neighbour for energy supplies – Turkey gets about 30% of its oil from Iran – despite pressure from the US to cut back its commercial ties with Iran.

Tensions between Iran and the West have been especially high since the US imposed new sanctions on Iran’s central bank and the EU said it would place an embargo on Iran’s oil exports.

EU foreign ministers are due to meet to approve the embargo later this month.

Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz – a key route from the Gulf through which 20% of the world’s traded oil passes.

via BBC News – Iran nuclear: Ali Larijani accepts Turkey talks offer.

January 13, 2012
Iran, 5+1 to resume talks in Turkey soon: Davutoglu

Source: Mehr News Agency

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced that Turkey will host new rounds of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany) in the near future.

Ahmet Davutoglu (R) met Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran last week

Davutoglu made the remarks in a recent interview with the Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

Iranian and EU officials have agreed that talks be held in Turkey, Davutoglu stated, noting that the agreement was reached during the meetings he recently held with a number of Iranian officials and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the 5+1 group.

Commenting on the sanctions that the United States has imposed on the Islamic Republic and a number of European countries’ decision to impose sanctions on Iran, Davutoglu said that Ankara will not comply with such sanctions and sees no limitations hindering the expansion of ties with Tehran.

Davutoglu made an unannounced two-day visit to Tehran on January 4 and 5, in which he held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili.

At a joint news conference with Salehi on January 5, Davutoglu said that he carried a message from Ashton in regard to the resumption of talks.

“I gave Ashton’s message to Mr. Salehi, the Iranian foreign minister, (and) the Iranian foreign minister also expressed readiness (for dialogue),” he said at the time.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said on January 3 that Iran is waiting for the 5+1 to suggest a date and venue for a new round of talks.

“At present, we are waiting for Ms. Ashton to announce her suggested date and venue for the continuation of talks with Iran,” Mehmanparast stated.

He added, “After receiving the letter of Ms. Ashton, Mr. Jalili will announce his views,” and an agreement would be reached, Mehmanparast stated.

EU foreign policy spokesman Michael Mann said on December 31, 2010 that the EU is open to meaningful talks with Tehran, provided there are no preconditions on the Iranian side.

“We continue to pursue our twin-track approach and are open for meaningful discussions on confidence-building measures, without preconditions from the Iranian side,” Mann stated.

The Iranian ambassador to Germany said on the same day that the next round of talks will be held after Jalili sends a letter to Ashton.

In late January 2011, a new round of talks between Iran and the major powers was held in Istanbul but no date was set for the next round of negotiations.

After the end of the Geneva talks in early December 2010, Jalili announced that Iran and the 5+1 group had agreed that the next rounds of talks should focus on common ground for cooperation.

However, the 5+1 group reneged on the agreement, and after the end of the Geneva talks, Ashton read out a statement saying the nuclear issue would be the focus of the next round of talks, a move which drew strong criticism from Iranian officials.

The main bone of contention between Tehran and the West is Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

Iran says all its nuclear activities are totally peaceful, and, as an International Atomic Energy Agency member and a nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatory, it has the legal right to produce nuclear fuel for its research reactors and nuclear power plants.

… Payvand News – 01/08/12 … —

January 9, 2012
Iran: Turkey is best place for nuclear talks

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – An Iranian news agency is quoting the country’s foreign minister as saying Turkey is the best place for further talks with world powers about Iran’s nuclear program.

According to a report Thursday by the semiofficial Isna agency, Ali Akbar Salehi said Iran agreed after Turkey announced its readiness to host the talks. He was speaking at news conference with his visiting Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu.

On Saturday, Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator said he had called on the six powers — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — to resume talks.

The invitation comes in after new Western sanctions over Tehran’s uranium enrichment program. The U.S. and others charge Iran is aiming for nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

via Iran: Turkey is best place for nuclear talks – USATODAY.com.

January 7, 2012