MOSCOW/BRUSSELS. June 3 (Interfax) - The world community's sanctions against Tehran are not irreversible, said the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
"We have always said that sanctions are not irreversible. It is entirely in Iran's hands to engage in meaningful negotiations that would allow building confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program," Ashton said in an interview with Interfax in connection with a EU-Russia summit opening in Yekaterinburg on Monday.
Ashton is the coordinator of the sextet of international mediators for settling Iran's nuclear problem.
"I have just met the Iranian chief negotiator for an informal meeting. I am determined to continue diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," Ashton said.
Presidential elections will be held in Iran on June 14.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov earlier said in an interview with Interfax that the next full-format talks with Iran should be held as soon as possible after the presidential elections.