Istanbul to Host Iran-G5+1 Talks
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) are scheduled to resume their talks in Istanbul, Turkey, and in case of good progress hold a second round of talks in Iraq's capital city of Baghdad.
After weeks of debates, Iran and the six world powers agreed to attend a first meeting in Istanbul.
The Iraqi capital city of Baghdad will be the second host to the Iran-powers talks in case of progress in the first round of negotiations in Istanbul.
Yet, sources said that the two sides' top negotiating officials need to endorse the agreement, and that the final decision would be released later today.
Also, diplomats told FNA that Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Undersecretary Ali Baqeri and the EU foreign policy deputy chief have agreed on April 14 as the date for holding the talks.
The Iranian team of negotiators is led by SNSC Secretary Saeed Jalili, while delegations of the six world powers are headed by EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton. The deputies of Jalili and Ashton were in charge of discussions over the date and venue of the talks.
The last meeting between the two sides took place in Istanbul in January 2011. Iran and the G5+1 had also held two rounds of multifaceted talks in Geneva in December 2010.
The announcement came after diplomatic sources told FNA Thursday evening that Iran has rejected repeated offers by the western side to hold the next round of talks with the world powers in European countries.
The sources said Ashton had named several European countries, including Norway, Switzerland and Austria, for holding the talks with Iran, but the Iranian side rejected Ashton's offers, stressing that it was not interested in attending the talks in these countries.
After weeks of debates, Iran and the six world powers agreed to attend a first meeting in Istanbul.
The Iraqi capital city of Baghdad will be the second host to the Iran-powers talks in case of progress in the first round of negotiations in Istanbul.
Yet, sources said that the two sides' top negotiating officials need to endorse the agreement, and that the final decision would be released later today.
Also, diplomats told FNA that Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Undersecretary Ali Baqeri and the EU foreign policy deputy chief have agreed on April 14 as the date for holding the talks.
The Iranian team of negotiators is led by SNSC Secretary Saeed Jalili, while delegations of the six world powers are headed by EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton. The deputies of Jalili and Ashton were in charge of discussions over the date and venue of the talks.
The last meeting between the two sides took place in Istanbul in January 2011. Iran and the G5+1 had also held two rounds of multifaceted talks in Geneva in December 2010.
The announcement came after diplomatic sources told FNA Thursday evening that Iran has rejected repeated offers by the western side to hold the next round of talks with the world powers in European countries.
The sources said Ashton had named several European countries, including Norway, Switzerland and Austria, for holding the talks with Iran, but the Iranian side rejected Ashton's offers, stressing that it was not interested in attending the talks in these countries.