Brussels, 12/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will meet the political leaders of the E3+3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia) in Brussels on 16 July in order to “see how to progress the negotiations with Iran, following the presidential elections”, said Ashton's spokesperson on Friday 12 July. This will be their first meeting since the Iranian elections in June.
On 29 June, the new Iranian president, Hassan Rohani (who was responsible for the nuclear negotiations in 2003-2005) said that his government would apply a policy of constructive and effective agreement with the world, and that his government would support all Iran's rights - including its nuclear rights. He added that the constructive agreement with the world and the dialogue with the others must be conducted on the basis of equality and mutual respect and interest, and on the basis of mutual trust. On 17 June, he said that Tehran was going to be more transparent in order to show that its activities are in line with international rules, that the nuclear issue can only be settled through negotiation and that numerous ways exist to create trust. The era of demanding a halt to uranium enrichment is over, he also said. The last negotiations between the E3+3 and Iran took place in Almaty on 5-6 April (see EUROPE 10822). Ashton met the Iranian chief negotiator on 15 May. (CG/transl.fl)