Brussels, 09/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU may consider lifting the visa ban on new Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in order to make negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme easier, Catherine Ashton said on 8 February in New York, where she was to address the UN Security Council (see related article). In January, Salehi succeeded Manouchehr Mottaki, who has headed the Iranian nuclear programme since July 2009. He is thus one of the Iranian leaders banned from entering the EU under the terms of the sanctions imposed because of the nuclear programme. Ashton said that Salehi was a foreign minister and the discussions taking place have highlighted that, usually, foreign ministers are removed from the list of persons not allowed entry because there is a need for an interlocutor who can travel. She told press that she was keen to meet Salehi, adding that his appointment could possibly signal a change of attitude on the part of Tehran. (H.B./transl.rt)