To talk or not to talk, that is the question

Zuma Press — Foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi, left, in Munich on Sunday, said Iran will attend nuclear talks in Kazakhstan.

Iran Says It Is Set for Nuclear Talks, but West Is Skeptical

By JAY SOLOMON, WSJ

WASHINGTON—Iran's foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, told world leaders on Sunday that Tehran was prepared to resume negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear program this month in Kazakhstan, potentially ending eight months of stalled international diplomacy.

But U.S. and European Union officials said in interviews following Mr. Salehi's speech in Munich that they were skeptical Tehran would follow through with his pledge, given the nation's recent history on the issue. They also said his government has yet to formally commit to sending a delegation to Astana on Feb. 25.

European Union Foreign Secretary Catherine Ashton proposed the date and location to Iran's government in a letter sent last month, but hasn't received a reply, her spokeswoman confirmed late Sunday.

The international diplomatic bloc that Ms. Ashton leads, which comprises the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, known as P5+1, hasn't held direct, high-level talks with Iran since last June.

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