Iran is reported to have told officials in Turkey that is agrees to talks with five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany in Turkey. The LA Times reports that Iran has agreed to talks with the United States and other world powers on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, provided negotiations take place in neighboring Turkey. The LA Times reports the offer probably was meant to put diplomatic pressure on the U.S. and its allies, but did not provide detailed information about the specific U.S. officials involved in the talks about what officials are skeptical about the negotiations.
Turkey’s semiofficial Anatolian news agency quoted Foreign Ministry officials as saying that “parties had agreed in principle to hold the talks in Turkey,” though no date or specific site has been set.
Meanwhile, early Sunday Senator Lindsey Graham (R. South Carolina), member of the Armed Services and Homeland Defense committees, said: “The US should consider sinking the Iranian navy, destroying its air force and delivering a decisive blow to the Revolutionary Guards.” In an address to the Halifax International Security forum, he declared “They should neuter the regime, destroy its ability to fight back and hope Iranians will take the chance to take back their government.”
Turkey has recently opposed the latest round of United Nations sanctions on Iran — cutting a deal with Brazil and Iran to send about half of Iran’s nuclear fuel supply to Turkey in exchange for plates to power a malfunctioning Iranian medical reactor.
The Islamic Republic continues to enrich uranium — producing some fuel at 20% rates of purity.
See also …
LA Times Iran pushes for nuclear talks in Turkey
Wikpedia Special nuclear material