By STEPHEN CASTLE
BRUSSELS — Talks on Iran’s nuclear program moved a step closer Thursday as the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, agreed to one of two dates for discussions suggested by Tehran, a diplomat said, although Ms. Ashton proposed an alternative location.
Ms. Ashton would lead the negotiations with Iran alongside officials from the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain.
On Thursday Ms. Ashton’s officials were drafting a letter to Iran’s senior negotiator, Saeed Jalili, agreeing to talks Dec. 5, but proposing that they take place not in Istanbul, as Iran had suggested, but in another country, probably Switzerland.
Ms. Ashton may also suggest that the discussions are conducted over three days rather than one, said a European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has yet to be made.
In recent weeks an exchange of letters between Ms. Ashton and the Iranians has brought the prospect of the resumption of talks significantly closer. In a letter dated Nov. 9, shown to The International Herald Tribune, Iran said Mr. Jalili would be ready to meet on Nov. 23 or Dec. 5 in Istanbul.
The diplomat confirmed Thursday that discussions between the Americans, Russians, Chinese and Europeans had taken place in the last 48 hours on how to react to Iran’s letter of this week.
“Catherine Ashton is expected to respond to Iran by the end of the week and is expected to agree to Iran’s proposal to meet on December 5, but not in Istanbul,” the diplomat said.
Instead the discussions would take place “somewhere in Europe - most likely Switzerland” with the possibility of a follow-up meeting for Istanbul.
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