Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says no date or venue has been set for the next round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group -- comprising Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US plus Germany.

“Setting a date and a location for [comprehensive] negotiations [with the P5+1]depends on the agreement between the two sides. If the schedules of both sides allow it, it will be held before the end of the year (2012); otherwise it will be held next year,” Mehmanparast said on Wednesday.

Commenting on reports that the P5+1 plans to offer a package of incentives to Iran, the spokesman said Tehran’s negotiations with the group will take place within a defined framework and each side must propose its plans and programs in the meeting.

“At the moment, there is no need to address this issue, when there is no accurate information or any planning about it, we must wait for the date and the venue of the talks to be set and then see what the approach of the P5+1, especially the Western states, will be,” he added.

Mehmanparast said the P5+1 should adopt a logical approach to Iran, adding that increasing sanctions and exerting pressure are counterproductive and will not help the success of the talks.


Iran and the P5+1 group have held several rounds of talks with the main focus being Iran’s 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 (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
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News ID 183705