Iran’s Zarif, EU’s Ashton Meet In Istanbul

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Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif and the European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton are meeting in Istanbul May 26 and May 27 to discuss Teheran’s nuclear program, sources tell RFE/RL.

The meeting comes ahead of the next round of official negotiations between Iran and the five permanent member of the UN Security Council plus Germany in Vienna on June 16.

The previous round of negotiations in Vienna earlier this month ended in disappointment with the parties far apart in drafting a text of a comprehensive agreement that would further ease Western sanctions on the country in exchange for Iran lowering its enrichment of uranium.

Today’s meeting in Istanbul was unannounced and little information of what exactly will be discussed has been communicated officially.

But sources say the meeting is an indication that a final deal still can be reached.

By RFE/RL