Iran Focus

TEHRAN, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Sunday nuclear negotiations with members of the U.N. Security Council will take place in Istanbul.

Salehi said Iran plans to display good will in the talks with the Group 5+1 -- the five permanent members of the council, the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China, plus Germany -- IRNA reported.

'We understand the situation of the other party and are looking for a prestigious way out for the negotiating partners,' Salehi said in a news conference.

The Turkish venue was approved by European Union Foreign Policy and Security chief Catherine Ashton two months ago, IRNA said.

'In his letter to Mrs. Ashton, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili has made it clear that Iran is willing to resume talks at the earliest convenience and cited Istanbul as the venue for the talks,' Salehi said.