The United Nations Security Council's fresh sanctions against Iran does not mean there are no more avenues for a negotiated settlement on the nuclear issue, the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said late Wednesday.
Ashton said the decision, "while reflecting the international community's concern about the Iranian nuclear programme and reconfirming the need for Iran to comply with the UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Authority Board of Governors requirements, keeps the door open for continued engagement", DPA reported.
"Sanctions are not the endgame or the final solution. They are part of a dual-track approach. We hope that today's decision will bring Iran to the negotiating table," she insisted.
Ashton's predecessor Javier Solana negotiated with Iran on behalf of the international community for years, but never managed to strike a deal. Since the new EU foreign policy director took office last December, talks have not taken place.
Signaling she was ready to kickstart them again, Ashton said she could meet Iran's top negotiator, Saeed Jalili, "at the earlier opportunity," but insisted that "any discussions (should) include Iran's nuclear programme and (should) not affect" the UN sanctions regime.
She also said a recent proposal to have Iran obtain limited quantities of enriched uranium from Turkey under international supervision, as proposed by Turkish and Brazilian leaders, "is a step in the right direction, but does not answer all the concerns still outstanding."