Iran mulls venues for nuclear talks

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Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that the Islamic republic is considering Iraq and China as potential venues for the upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, Mehr news agency reported.

With Istanbul still being one of the options for the nuclear talks, China and Iraq are also being considered by Iran as possible venues for the April 13 talks between Iran and the five permanent members of UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany, known as P5+1.

Iran's state IRIB TV said on Tuesday that Iraq has offered to host the upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1. But Iraq's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Teheran has asked Baghdad to host the upcoming round of talks, instead of Istanbul.

A decision on the location of the talks will be announced after Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili consults with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Salehi was quoted as saying by Mehr on Wednesday.

The suggestions of alternative sites raised the possibility of complications to get talks under way as expected on April 13. It also could bring accusations of stall tactics by Iran's leaders.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Istanbul was Iran's first choice as a venue. It has now been publicly cited by the US and others as the site of the talks.

But Salehi appeared to leave open the possibility, however small, that the negotiations could shift to another location.

Salehi noted that the content of the talks is "more important than the venue and timing".

"I think the future talks, compared to the past, will hopefully be better and forward steps will be taken," he said.

Talks broke down in January 2011 over Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment in exchange for reactor-ready fuel from abroad. The West fear Iran could use its ability to make nuclear fuel as the foundation for an eventual atomic weapons program. Iran insists it only seeks nuclear power for energy and medical research.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Saturday that the P5+1 and Iran have agreed to meet in Istanbul on April 13 and 14 with the aim of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

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Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.