EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she is in contact with Iranian officials to set the date and place for talks on Iran's nuclear program, adding that an announcement on those details could be anticipated soon. Sources in Brussels said such taclks could take place in mid-April.
Ashton represents Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the United States in talks with Iran.
“We should be thinking of this as the beginning of a process. And, therefore, everyone should be aware that it will take time,” she said Saturday at the Brussels Forum, a conference on transatlantic relations organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
“We'll be looking to ensure that what is being put before us, if you like, is a real willingness to have a sustained process.”
On Friday, European Union Foreign Ministers extended sanctions against Tehran by adding 17 Iranians to its sanctions list for human rights abuses.
Those individuals targeted by sanctions related to human rights abuses will be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze. The 17 new people added Friday take to 78 the total number of Iranians targeted for abuses. At a meeting in Brussels, foreign ministers also agreed a ban on the export of equipment and software to Iran that can be used to monitor or intercept telecommunications.
The ministers also approved the legal text which will enforce a major broadening of Iranian sanctions that was agreed in January over its nuclear activities.
Among the January measures was a ban on Iranian exports of crude oil, sanctions on its central bank and a ban on trade in gold.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said he hoped a diplomatic solution could be found to the nuclear issue but warned there wouldn't be a "quick solution of the issues."
In comments that seemed aimed at Israel, Bildt also warned any country against taking action that could derail the talks.
"I sincerely hope that no-one wants to blow up the diplomatic process. That would be an act of international irresponsibility of the first order," he said.

EJP