Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, February 19th (reporters Du Yuanjiang and He Guanghai) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on February 19th in Tehran that the new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and six countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany - will be held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Salehi stated at a joint press conference after talks with the Nicaraguan foreign minister that Iran is ready to restart negotiations with the six countries, and the next round of negotiations will take place in Istanbul. Despite the pressure exerted by the United States, Iran will continue to advance its peaceful nuclear program. However, he did not specify when the new round of negotiations would occur.
Salehi emphasized that Western countries should choose cooperation over confrontation regarding Iran's nuclear program. Iran has already prepared for "the worst-case scenario" and hopes that Western countries can change their policies towards Iran.
Recently, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili replied to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton concerning the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the six countries, stating that Iran is ready to resume dialogue as soon as possible with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany regarding its nuclear program.
Ashton had sent a letter to Jalili in October last year, suggesting that Iran engage in a new round of dialogue with the six countries "without preconditions" on the nuclear issue to rebuild international confidence that Iran's nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes.
The last round of negotiations between Iran and the six countries on the nuclear issue concluded on January 22nd last year in Istanbul. Due to fundamental differences on key issues such as uranium enrichment, no substantial results were achieved. (Du Yuanjiang and He Guanghai)