Iranian FM accuses West of disputing venue for nuke talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's foreign minister is blaming the West for holding up agreements on finding a venue to restart talks over Tehran's nuclear program, The Associated Press reports.

The comments by Ali Akbar Salehi suggest no headway has been made on Iran's proposal for Egypt as the site to renew dialogue more than six months since the last round of talks ended in stalemate. It also appears as a response to European Union claims last week that Tehran was willfully delaying new nuclear talks with the six world powers by changing venues and using other stalling tactics, the AP says.

Iran has proposed Cairo as a venue. Salehi also suggested Turkey, which hosted one of the rounds last year.

The West has not given a definitive list of options, but Salehi says Kazakstan, Switzerland and Sweden have been raised.