EU foreign policy chief says is optimistic Iran-5+1 talks could begin soon

TEHRAN,Feb.29(MNA) – European Union foreign policy chief has expressed optimism that talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany) could begin soon, the online version of the British daily the Morning Star reported. Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Monday before a meeting of European Union foreign ministers, Ashton, who represents the major powers in nuclear negotiations with Tehran, said that Iran’s most recent letter regarding talks about its nuclear program “suggests we should consider getting into talks.” The 5+1 countries are working “to look at whether we think it is sufficient to get into talks, and I am cautiously optimistic about that.” On February 15, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili sent a reply to Ashton’s letter dated October 2011. Jalili’s letter contains suggestions about the date, venue, and agenda of a new round of talks about Iran’s nuclear program.