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February 3, 2013 -- Updated 1336 GMT (2136 HKT)

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Iran says it will resume nuclear talks

Talks over Tehran's nuclear program will resume this month, Iran's foreign minister announced at a security conference in Germany. The statement followed news the U.S. is willing to hold bilateral discussions with Iran. FULL STORY

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  Iran says it will resume nuclear talks in Kazakhstan

  From Atika Shubert, CNN

  February 3, 2013 -- Updated 1138 GMT (1938 HKT)
  
  German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle (L) and Iran's Ali Akbar Salehi, gesticulate on the second day of the the 49th Munich Security Conference on February 2, 2013 in Munich.
  STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Iran's foreign minister says indirect talks will resume on February 25
  • The talks will be between the five members of the UN Security Council, Germany and Iran
  • The talks will take place in Kazakhstan, the minister says
  Munich, Germany (CNN) -- Indirect talks over Tehran's nuclear program will resume this month, Iran's foreign minister announced Sunday at a security conference in Germany.
  
  The announcement the talks would resume February 25 in Kazakhstan followed news that the United States is willing to hold bilateral discussions with Iran under the right conditions.
  "We have no red line for negotiations, bilateral negotiations when it comes to any subject," Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on the final day of the 49th Munich Security Conference.
  "When it comes to the nuclear issue, yes, we are ready to negotiate. But we have to make sure this time -- and this I think is very fair of us -- to make sure the other side this time comes with an authentic intention -- authentic and real intention to resolve the issue."
  The indirect talks with Iran, through the so-called P5+1 -- the five members of the UN Security Council and Germany -- have been unsuccessful and have stalled for months.
  The lack of progress in those talks have placed pressure on President Barack Obama to rethink the United States' diplomatic approach.
  Latest sanctions
  Last month, the United States slapped new sanctions on the Islamic republic, targeting a handful of companies and individuals it says are providing materials and technology to Tehran's nuclear program.
  The sanctions, announced by the U.S. State and Treasury departments, were the latest to target Iran's economy as well as its ability to develop nuclear material.
  Iran maintains its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only. But the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency has said it cannot verify whether the intent of the program is for peaceful means.
  A number of Western nations have placed economic and arms-related sanctions on Iran since November 2010 when the nuclear watchdog said Tehran was pursuing technology that could be used to build nuclear weapons.
  Since then, Iran has been hit by the United States and the European Union with an oil embargo as well as sanctions targeting its banks and number of its businesses.
  Washington open to talks
  U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday during a speech at the Munich conference that Washington was open to holding bilateral talks with Tehran.
  The United States "would be prepared to meet bilaterally with the Iranian leadership," he said.
  Biden said "there has to be an agenda that they are prepared to speak to. We are not just prepared to do it for the exercise."
  Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, has in the past called for direct talks with Iran. It was a point of contention during his confirmation hearing, with some Republicans accusing him of being too soft on Iran.
  Kerry, during his confirmation hearing, said that the current sanctions against Iran are working, but there is hope that progress can be made on the diplomatic front.
  Salehi, meanwhile, said Sunday that he takes "these statements with positive consideration."
  "I think this is a step forward. But please, do note, that each time we have come and negotiated it was the other side unfortunately who did not keep to this commitment," he said.
  CNN's Chelsea J. Carter and Mariano Castillo contributed to this report. 
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