Hope over possible new Iran talks

LUXEMBOURG: The European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell declined to confirm yesterday that EU and Iranian diplomats would meet in Brussels on Thursday to try to revive the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, but said he was hopeful of a meeting soon.

Bloomberg News reported that Iran’s foreign minister gave the date on Sunday, citing an Iranian lawmaker. A senior EU official last week confirmed that meetings were planned in Brussels, rather than Vienna, but gave no date.

“You never know, I am more optimistic today than yesterday,” Mr Borrell said in Luxembourg as he arrived for an EU foreign ministers meeting. “No confirmation yet, but things are getting better and I am hope we will have preparatory meetings in Brussels in the days to come.”