The next round of talks between Tehran and the Six international mediators (Russia, China, USA, France, Britain and Germany) on the Iranian nuclear issue will begin in Istanbul on Jan.20 and will last for the day and a half or two, Reuters reported with reference to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
"We have set dates of negotiations and we will begin them in the evening of Jan 20. The talks will last two or, at least the day and a half, and this is an extremely positive momentum," Ashton said on Friday in Budapest after talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, RIA Novosti reported.
Another round of talks on the Iranian nuclear issue ended in Geneva on Dec.6-7. Deputy foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, Great Britain, China, France, Germany and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton attended the talks.
The result of talks was an agreement to continue the consultations in late January in Istanbul.
The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons for military purposes under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying that its nuclear program is aimed solely at meeting the country's electricity needs.
The U.N. Security Council adopted six resolutions in connection with the suspension of Iran's nuclear program. Four involve the use of economic sanctions on Iran.