'Iran ready for EU's offer of fresh nuclear negotiations'
Teheran's top nuclear negotiator says that fresh nuclear talks should be "just and without pressuring the other party," report says.
By REUTERSbushehr_311 reuters(photo credit: Stringer Iran / Reuters)
TEHERAN - Iran's top nuclear negotiator replied on Tuesday to a letter by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on fresh nuclear talks, saying they should be "just", state television reported."The letter was handed over in Vienna by Iran's ambassador. In the letter, Saeed Jalili welcomed P5+1's return to talks, underlining the talks should be just and without pressuring the other party," the Arabic-language al Alam channel reported.RELATED:Iran conducting final pre-start tests at nuclear plantAnalysis: Iran leadership row weakens AhmadinejadThe "P-5+1" is the diplomatic acronym for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain -- as well as Germany.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had said in Istanbul on Monday that the next round of nuclear talks would be held in the Turkish city, without giving any date.Iran's last talks with the six powers in January made no headway in part because the Islamic Republic again ruled out suspending uranium enrichment, as demanded by several Security Council resolutions dating to 2006.The United States and its European allies suspect Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons capability under the cover of its declared civilian atomic energy programme. Teheran denies it, saying it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity.The Islamic Republic said earlier this month that Teheran had received a letter from Ashton, who has represented six world powers in previous talks.Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
