Iran agrees to talks on nuclear program
BEIRUT, Lebanon – For the first time in more than a year, Iran has agreed to talks with world powers over its nuclear power program.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters in Brussels on Friday that she received an affirmative response from Iranian nuclear negotiator Said Jalili to a standing invitation to talks sometime after Nov. 10 “in a place and on a date convenient to both sides.”
Ashton described the letter as “a significant move” and said diplomats were now attempting to pinpoint a place and time for negotiations on ways to resolve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at producing weapons and Iran says is solely for civilian purposes.
Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency cited Jalili’s office as saying it welcomed the willingness of world powers “to return to the talks with Iran.”
Most close observers of the years-long diplomatic struggle over Iran’s nuclear program doubt the meetings next month will resolve the disputes between Tehran and the international community.