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    December 31, 2011

Report: Iran to Propose New Nuclear Talks

   VOA News
   Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili (file)
   Photo: AP
   Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili speaks to the media after
   two-day talks between Iran and world powers on Iran's nuclear program
   at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. (File - Jan. 22, 2011)

   Iran's ambassador to Germany says his country is ready for a new round
   of talks with major world powers about Iran's controversial nuclear
   program.
   The semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday that Ambassador
   Ali Reza Sheikh Attar says Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili,
   will propose the talks in a letter to the European Union's foreign
   policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
   The renewed dialogue would be between Iran and the five permanent
   members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Russia,
   China, Britain, and France -- as well as Germany.
   The ambassador did not say how soon the letter would be sent.
   The West fears Iran's nuclear program is geared toward making atomic
   weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
   Talks earlier this year between Iran and the six world powers did not
   make progress.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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