Iran: Turkey best location to hold nuclear program talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (L) and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu (R) talk to journalists before a meeting in Tehran on January 4, 2012. The European Union and the United States tightened today the sanctions noose around Iran, with diplomats in Brussels saying a preliminary agreement had been reached on an EU embargo of Iranian oil. The West’s double squeeze on Iran adds to existing sanctions imposed over Tehran’s nuclear programme that is increasingly destabilising the Islamic republic oil-dependent economy
Iran’s foreign minister announced on Thursday he believes Turkey is the best location for world powers to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, the Associated Press reported.
The report came from the semiofficial Isna news agency, which said Ali Akbar Salehi, during a news conference with visiting Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu, expressed Iran’s agreement after Turkey announced its readiness to host the talks, the AP reported.
Read more at GlobalPost: Strait of Hormuz: War of words over Iran oil blockade threats (VIDEO)
“What is important is continuation of dialogue. As Turkey we defend peaceful steps,” Davutoglu said, the Tehran Times reported. “We hope that nuclear talks reach a good point and the unfavorable climate that have been created to calm down.”
Salehi agreed with his counterpart, saying Iran is ready resume talks with the 5+1 group and “we hope that negotiations be held in a place (which is) agreed by the two sides, which in my opinion Turkey is the best place,” the Tehran Times reported.
Read more at GlobalPost: European Union agrees to oil embargo, Iran says it will work around ban
Turkey’s foreign minister is visiting Tehran since Wednesday, as a part of regular meetings between the two, which are held twice a year, the AP reported.
Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, said on Saturday he called on the six powers, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, to resume talks, the AP reported. The announcement came after new sanctions from the US, Canada and the United Kingdom on Iranian oil in response to Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran’ foreign minister Salehi dismissed the sanctions saying, “Necessary plans are in place and we will safely overcome” them, the AP reported.
Read more at GlobalPost: What role will Turkey plan in Iran?