Asia-Pacific

Iran says nuclear talks could happen in Turkey

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-11-07 19:46

TEHRAN - Iran could return to talks with major world powers concerned about its nuclear program "as soon as possible", its foreign minister said on Sunday, suggesting Turkey as a possible venue.

Manouchehr Mottaki gave Tehran's most positive sign so far that it is willing to resume the negotiations which stalled more than a year ago, leading to tightened international sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The P5+1 group - the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany - had proposed holding talks with Iran over its nuclear programme on November 15-17 in Vienna, an approach welcomed by Iran but never formally agreed to.

Related readings:  Israel: Iran can build 1 bomb, soon can build 2  China calls for early resumption of Iran nuclear talks  Iran agrees to resume nuclear talks  Iran to stage massive drill in Nov: report

"Consultations are under way, they are on the right track," Mottaki told a news conference.

"We are hopeful that the time and the agenda and content of the talks will soon be agreed upon by both parties and that both parties will start the talks as soon as possible."

As an alternative venue to Vienna, the home of the UN nuclear agency, he suggested neighbour Turkey.

"We have told our Turkish friends that we are in agreement with regard to holding these talks in Turkey," he said.

Muslim Turkey, which has deepened commercial and energy ties with its neighbour, says it is willing to mediate between the West and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme and has offered in the past to host talks.

Along with Brazil, Turkey brokered a nuclear fuel swap deal with Tehran earlier this year - an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to avoid the new sanctions on Iran agreed by the Security Council in June.

Both countries voted against the sanctions and have said diplomacy is needed to solve the dispute over Iran's nuclear enrichment which produces material that could be further processed for military use.

Iran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons.

As the November 15 date approached, Iran has sent mixed signals about the talks. Last week, a close aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said even if Iran did agree to the talks it would not negotiate about its nuclear program - the central issue for the P5+1 group.

Ahmadinejad has also asked the P5+1 countries parties to declare their opinion on Israel's alleged nuclear arsenal. Israel says a nuclear-armed Iran would threaten its very existence and does not rule out striking Iran militarily to stop that happening.