EU ready for nuclear talks

Ashton tells Mottaki during Kabul meet :

IRAN: EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton met Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Kabul Tuesday and expressed her readiness to hold talks with Tehran over its nuclear program, ISNA news agency reported.

The two met on the sidelines of an international conference in the Afghan capital attended by representatives of 70 organisations and countries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“The meeting (between Ashton and Mottaki) was organised after Ashton asked for it,” ISNA said, quoting its Kabul reporter.

Ashton told Mottaki that she “was ready to start nuclear negotiations and that we are in contact with the Islamic republic and we are serious to find a solution acceptable for both the parties,” ISNA reported.

Ashton represents the six world powers — Britain, China, France, Russia, Germany and the United States — for holding a dialogue with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.

During their meeting, Mottaki told Ashton about “Iran’s position and its legitimate right concerning the nuclear issue,” ISNA said.

Earlier Tuesday diplomats in Brussels told AFP that the European Union will urge Iran to agree on a firm date for the resumption of nuclear talks when the bloc tightens sanctions against Tehran next week.

EU Foreign Ministers will approve Monday “comprehensive and robust” sanctions on trade, financial services, transport and the key energy sectors, according to a draft declaration obtained by AFP ahead of the meeting.

European leaders agreed at a summit last month to impose sanctions targeting the Iranian gas and oil sectors following Tehran’s repeated refusal to halt its disputed nuclear activities.

But Brussels has also urged Iran to return to the negotiating table with the six world powers.

TEHRAN, Wednesday, AFP