Iran: No talks with P5+1 before US presidential polls

Tehran has no plans to hold talks with the six major world powers of the P5+1 before the US presidential polls, a member of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) tells Press TV.

Speaking to Press TV on Wednesday, the SNSC official rejected media reports that Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili may hold talks with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton before November 6.

On Tuesday, Ashton said that European officials had met last weekend with aides to Jalili, adding that she plans to meet directly with him soon.

Jalili and Ashton last met in Istanbul on September 18 in a follow-up to their previous negotiations.

Iran and the P5+1 group, comprising – Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany – have held several rounds of multifaceted talks mainly over the Iranian nuclear energy issue.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation treaty and a member of International Atomic Energy Agency it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.