The EU foreign affairs office says it is still waiting for the Islamic Republic to respond to its letter from last October, which called for resumed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Reuters reports that the office of Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, announced that the G5+1 believes the disputes over Iran’s nuclear program can be resolved through “negotiations and pressure.”
In October of 2011, in a letter addressed to Saeed Jalili, the head of Iran’s National Security Supreme Council, Ashton announced that the world powers were prepared to resume “constructive” talks with Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said last week during a trip to Turkey that Iran is prepared to resume nuclear talks. He proposed that Turkey host the meeting, as it did last year.
Following that two-day round of talks, Ashton expressed her disappointment at the lack of progress.
The world powers are concerned that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran insists that its nuclear program is completely peaceful.
After the release of the International Atomic Energy Agency report indicating that Iran’s nuclear activities may have a military component, the West began instituting a new wave of sanctions against Iran.
U.S. President Barack Obama has been quoted as saying that the sanctions are proving effective and wreaking havoc on the Iranian economy.
Recent reports from Iran indicate the fall of the rial against foreign currencies, rising inflation and widespread unemployment.
