* Global powers want to resume nuclear talks with Iran
* Concerns mounting over Iran’s bomb-making ability
* No timing or venue set for new talks yet (Adds details of Ashton’s letter, background)
By Justyna Pawlak
BRUSSELS, March 6 (Reuters) – European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton wrote to Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator on Tuesday, accepting an offer to meet to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Ashton represents six powers – the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany – in dealings with Iran, and her offer of talks came after weeks of consultations with them.
It follows the expansion of sanctions by Europe and the United States to exert economic pressure and force Tehran to hold back on its nuclear programme, which they fear aims to produce atomic weapons. Iran says it is enriching uranium for peaceful purposes only.
In a letter last month, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, proposed that negotiations with global powers should resume after more than a year’s standstill, and said Tehran would have “new initiatives” to bring to the table. Read the rest of this entry »