Iran: Tehran favours nuclear talks in Istanbul

Tehran, 13 Jan. (AKI) - Iran said it favours holding nuclear talks with the United Nations Security Council and Germany in the Turkish capital.

"Our Turkish friends want the next round of talks to be in Istanbul and we welcome this proposal," said the speaker of the Iranian parliament Ali Larijani, according to a report by the Isna Iranian news agency.

The talks have been scheduled.

US president Barack Obama has signed into law a defence bill that included sanctions on the Iranian central bank in response to Iran's refusal to curb its nuclear program while the EU says it may follow the American lead by imposing an import ban on Iranian crude oil.

Iran says it is enriching uranium only for peaceful purposes and has on a number of occasions promised to engage in nuclear talks and cooperate with UN nuclear inspectors. But critics say it is a violation of the nuclear proliferation treaty and the UN in November released its most scathing report accusing Iran of conducting a secret effort to acquire skills to develop nuclear weapons.