Iran’s Jalili offers dates for talks with EU – letter

Reuters: Iran’s nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili has written to the European Union foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, saying he is ready to hold talks in Istanbul on Nov. 23 or Dec. 5, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

TEHRAN, Nov 9 (Reuters) – Iran’s nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili has written to the European Union foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, saying he is ready to hold talks in Istanbul on Nov. 23 or Dec. 5, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

In the letter, dated Nov. 9, Jalili does not say what the talks will focus on, but Ashton has said that everything should be on the table, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

“I wish to reiterate that his excellency Dr Jalili … will be ready to have a meeting on either 23rd of November or 5th of December 2010 in Istanbul,” the letter reads.

Ashton has a mandate from the six world powers involved in Iran’s nuclear negotiations — the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — to hold talks with Jalili. The two have been exchanging letters for several months.

Earlier, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said any talks would not discuss Iran’s uranium enrichment programme.