Brussels, 07/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 countries (the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and Germany) are expected to resume in Istanbul, Turkey, on 20 January 2011, reports AFP, quoting a spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton. Ashton's spokesperson is reported as saying that the date had been put forward earlier and is being examined, and positive indications had been received from the Iranians. Ashton is the 5+1's intermediary on the issue. A meeting took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 6 and 7 December 2010, breaking 14 months of deadlock. On Wednesday 5 January, a spokesperson for Catherine Ashton rejected the Iranian's offer to the EU and several countries to visit the controversial Iranian nuclear plants in the middle of January, on the grounds that this is the International Atomic Energy Agency's job. (L.C./transl.fl)