US: Iran, P5+1 should talk in Europe

The United States says talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany should take place in central Europe.

US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that any upcoming talks between the two sides should be held first in central Europe but any follow-up talks could take place in Turkey.

“Istanbul could still be a location for a second follow-on meeting,” he told reporters on Friday.

“But the general consensus is that the first meeting should be somewhere in central Europe,” he went on to say.

“We think it’s a more appropriate and a more convenient location for a first meeting,” he added without providing more explanation.

His remarks come after EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the P5+1, accepted Iran’s proposed date for comprehensive talks with the P5+1.

Ashton’s office said on Friday that she “has agreed to their proposal to begin talks on December 5.”

The Islamic Republic has proposed Turkey as the venue of talks, but Ashton’s office said that she suggested talks be held in Austria or Switzerland.

The P5+1 group consists of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.

Iran says it is “serious” in talks, calling on the P5+1 to adopt a constructive approach toward the upcoming talks with Tehran.