BICOM

It appeared yesterday that Iran had agreed to a date and venue for a new round of talks with international representatives over its’ nuclear programme.

The P5+1 powers – the US, UK, China, Russia, France and Germany – who are leading the international effort to resolve concerns over Iran’s nuclear development, last met with representatives from Tehran in Moscow in June. Talks have so far failed to achieve significant progress and last week, the spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is responsible for coordinating the discussions, accused Iran of “delaying tactics” in arranging a new round of talks.

However, speaking at a security conference in Munich, Reuters reports that Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said, “I have good news – I heard yesterday that the P5+1…will be meeting in Kazakhstan on February 25.” The Guardian quotes Ashton’s spokesman Michael Mann, who confirmed “Our latest proposal had indeed been Kazakhstan in the week of 25 February after other proposals had not worked.” However, he added that official acceptance from Iran had not yet been received, noting cautiously “it is good to hear that the foreign minister finally confirmed now. We hope the negotiating team will also confirm.”

In a separate development, US Vice President Joe Biden, also present in Munich indicated a willingness to enter direct talks with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. However, Biden added that the US would only consider doing so if Iran were serious about negotiations, saying “We’re not prepared to do it just for the exercise.”