Iran, EU negotiators meet in Istanbul
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton have met extensively in Istanbul.
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Istanbul on Monday, along with their aides, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Monday, even as the EU stayed mum on the meeting, first reported by Al-Monitor.
The meeting started around 4pm Monday and continued over a dinner at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Iranian media said. It is expected to continue Tuesday morning.
"The two sides will discuss [the] latest developments on [the] nuclear dispute and positive steps are expected to be taken to this effect," the Iran foreign ministry website said.
Zarif, upon arrival in Istanbul, told reporters that it is a meeting between his team and Ashton and her aides, and is not a meeting of the permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1), the foreign ministry website noted.
