Iran-IAEA talks have nothing to do with 5+1 negotiations: Iranian FM

TEHRAN, March 3 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that the delay in making a decision on the date and venue for the next round of talks between Tehran and the six major countries have nothing to do with the recent negotiations held between Iranian and IAEA officials. Iran rejected requests by the IAEA delegations to inspect the Parchin military site, which is located southeast of Tehran, during their visits to Iran from January 29 to 31 and February 21 to 22, which some say could delay negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany). Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said on February 24 that a framework had to be agreed on for any access or visit. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Salehi also said that Iran is waiting for the two countries that have announced their readiness to host the talks between Iran and the 5+1 group to announce their views in the coming few days. “I have talked to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and I personally like the meeting to be held in Istanbul,” he stated, without naming the second country that have agreed to host the talks. The Iranian foreign minister also said that the six major powers were supposed to announce their views regarding the talks on February 26, but it seems that they have not yet reached a consensus on the issue. On February 15, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili sent a reply to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s letter dated October 2011. Jalili’s letter to Ashton, who represents the major powers in nuclear negotiations with Tehran, contains suggestions about the date, venue, and agenda of a new round of talks about Iran’s nuclear program. Ashton said on February 27 that she was optimistic that the talks could resume soon.