Iran said earlier this month it was ready to hold talks with the six powers — the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany — in late October or early November.
“High Representative Ashton today officially proposed to Iran that these talks should take place over three days in mid-November,” the spokesperson said, referring to “positive indications” that chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili was willing to meet Ashton on behalf of the major powers.
“The High Representative has proposed Vienna as a possible venue for these talks. High representative Ashton hopes Mr. Jalili will respond positively and looks forward to constructively engaging with Iran next month.” Talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany stalled in October last year, leading to a toughening of international sanctions.
The United States and its European allies fear Iran’s civilian nuclear energy program is a cover to develop the capability of producing nuclear weapons.
Iran, the world’s fifth-largest oil producer, says it needs nuclear fuel-making technology to generate electricity and denies it is developing atomic arms.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has set conditions for further talks, saying a greater variety of countries must be involved, the parties must say whether they seek friendship or hostility with Iran, and they must express a view on Israel’s alleged nuclear arsenal.
The West is wary of what it sees as Iranian efforts to dodge the main issue in talks, buying time for advances in uranium enrichment.
