Ahmadinejad accuses western states of dragging nuclear talks

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused Western states of dragging negotiations on its nuclear program, ITAR-TASS reports.

Iran is ready for talks in Moscow or Beijing. The president discussed a proposal for preliminary consultations between Iranian Deputy Secretary of the Supreme Council of National Security Sayid Jalili and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

The previous round of talks between Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany were held in Baghdad. The next was are planned for Moscow on June 18-19. Iranian Deputy Secretary of the Supreme Council of National Security Ali Bageri sent two letters to Ashton’s deputy Helga Schmidt on May 28 and June 4 which have not received a response.

Russian representative to the IAEA Grigory Berdennikov said that the atomic organization and Iran are reaching a point of mutual understanding.

Russia wants clarification of the purpose of the Deyr ez-Zore facility.