Iran has invited EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton, who has been closely involved in the Iranian nuclear negotiations, to visit the Islamic republic.

Iran’s Mehr news agency on January 11 quoted a deputy of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying Ashton had been invited to visit Tehran whenever she wants.

The invitation was announced one day after progress was reported in talks between Iran and world powers on how to implement the interim agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

The countries participating in the talks — Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States — must still individually approve the implementation framework.

Under the November agreement, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program for at least six months, in exchange for receiving some easing of international sanctions.

Based on reporting by AFP and ITAR-TASS
RFE/RL