Iran, G5+1 to hold talks in Istanbul

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the next round of talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) will be held in Istanbul. Turkish Hurriyet daily on Friday quoted Davutoglu as saying that Istanbul will host the multifaceted talks between Iran and the six major world powers in early April. The report came a day after the Group 5+1 announced in a statement that they are prepared to resume talks with Iran. The group also expressed the hope that the upcoming talks would contain "serious discussions on concrete confidence building measures." In the latest developments regarding talks between Iran and six world powers, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in a letter to Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili called for the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the Group 5+1. Ashton's letter on Tuesday said that the two sides only had to set a date and a venue for the talks. The letter proposed an initial round of talks to focus on building confidence by developing concrete steps for the future, saying, "In practical terms…our deputies could get together in the near future in order to prepare for the first round of our resumed talks." The Iranian foreign minister had said earlier that Iran and the Group 5+1 are still in discussion over the date and venue for the next round of their talks. Speaking to reporters last Friday, Salehi reminded that Iran has voiced its readiness for talks with the world powers, and that relevant consultations are underway between the two sides. Salehi added that he personally prefers Turkey as the venue for the next round of talks between Iran and the 5+1, and added, "The date (of negotiations) is not far away and we are waiting for the one or two countries which have voiced their readiness (for the start of talks) to announce their view in the next two to three days." Iran and G5+1 attended three rounds of talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in January 2011. The Iranian side was presided Jalili, while Catherine Ashton headed delegations from the six world powers.