Egypt in talks with world powers to host Iran nuclear talks

Source : Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Egypt is holding talks with the six major powers to host a new round of talks between Iran and the powers over Tehran’s nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced on Wednesday.

“Egypt is in talks with the 5+1 countries to host the meeting,” Salehi told reporters when asked about a new round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), the latest high-level round of which was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19, 2012.

“When I was in Egypt, after coordination with the Supreme National Security Council, it was suggested that the next meeting be held in Cairo, and this was welcomed by our dear ones in Egypt,” he added.

The Iranian foreign minister visited Cairo from January 9 to 11, marking the first official visit by a high-ranking Iranian official to the Arab country since the ouster of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.

Salehi also said, “The date and venue of the talks have not been fixed yet. Consultations are being held by Mr. Jalili and Ms. Ashton, and correspondence has been exchanged.”

Saeed Jalili is the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the country’s chief nuclear negotiator, and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton represents world powers in nuclear negotiations with Iran.