Iran signals readiness to restart nuclear talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran notified the European Union that it is willing to restart international negotiations over its nuclear program after November 10, potentially reviving talks that foundered a year ago, AP reported.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a letter to the EU's foreign policy chief that Iran is ready to hold talks "in a place and on a date convenient to both sides."

Since the break-off in talks, the United States, EU and the United Nations have stepped up financial sanctions on Tehran. The negotiations between Iran and a group of six nations, including the United States, stalled in October 2009 over a deal meant to ensure Iran could only use its stockpile of enriched uranium for fueling nuclear reactors and not for building bombs.

In Brussels, the EU confirmed it had received the letter, which was sent by the office of top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton called the offer "a significant move".

Lady Ashton said she had received a letter from Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, agreeing to meet "in a place and on a date convenient to both sides" after November 10.