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October 14, 2010

BRUSSELS — European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday suggested a new round of talks with Iran next month in Vienna, capital of Austria.

EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton proposed to restore direct meetings with Iran on its nuclear program in mid-November, a spokesperson of her office said.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili made “positive indications” that he was willing to meet Ashton on behalf of the E3+3 group of countries, including Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, according to the spokesperson.

Ashton hopes that Jalili would respond “positively” and looks forward to constructively engaging with Iran next month, said the spokesperson.

Dialogue between Iran and the six powers has been halted since October last year. In July this year, European Union foreign ministers endorsed tougher sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program, including measures to block oil and gas investment and curtail its refining and natural gas capability.