Diplomatic sources say Iran has so far declined proposals to hold nuclear talks with the G5+1 in three European countries.
The Fars News Agency cited informed diplomats in Tehran saying that discussions are continuing over the location of nuclear talks between the Islamic Republic and the G5+1, and “repeated offers” to meet in Western countries have been declined by Iran.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, according to this report, has offered meetings in Norway, Switzerland or Austria, but Iran has said that it is not interested.
The diplomats said, however, that April 14 has been determined as the final date for the meeting.
Recently, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hooshyar Zibari told Reuters that Iraq is prepared to host the meeting in place of Turkey. He added that an Iranian delegation had recently travelled to Iraq to discuss this proposal.
Zibari had announced that he would contact the G5+1 representatives in order to set up the meeting.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced two days ago that a new venue for nuclear talks was proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which will be considered in discussion with the head of the Supreme Council of National Security and chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili.
Salehi added that Iran had proposed to hold the talks in Istanbul, which was first rejected by the world powers but later accepted. He added that even at that time, Iran had other countries in mind.
The two sides last met in Istanbul in February of 2011, and the talks reached an impasse.
Tensions have grown in Iranian-Turkish relations over their divergent policies regarding Syria. While Turkey has supported the opposition forces, Iran has kept close tires to the Beshar Assad government.
