Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov expresses his country’s readiness to host the next round of talks between Iran and six major world powers (P5+1) over outstanding issues pertaining to Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

"We said long ago that we were ready to contribute to a peaceful solution to the Iranian crisis," Idrissov said on Friday.

The Kazakh minister, who is on an official two-day visit to Moscow, emphasized that his country opposes an escalation of tension between Iran and the P5+1 - Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany.


He noted that Kazakhstan is ready to host nuclear talks in the cities of Astana and Almaty.

On Friday, European Union deputy foreign policy chief Helga Schmid, who represents the P5+1, called for the postponement of talks with Iran to February, saying the six major world powers are not ready to negotiate with the Islamic Republic this month.

Iran and the P5+1 have held several rounds of talks with a focus on Iran’s nuclear energy program. The last round of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 was held in Moscow in June 2012.

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

Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty 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 184063