Turkish FM says Iran determined to resume nuclear talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday, after returning from a visit to Tehran, that Iran was determined to resume talks on its nuclear program.

"The Iranian side said they were determined and agreed to resume talks (on its nuclear program)," Davutoglu said at a press conference held in Ankara.

"We hope that the talks would begin soon with mutual will and goodwill. Turkey was ready to make every type of contribution to this matter," Davutoglu said.

During his visit to Tehran on Thursday, Davutoglu and his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi held a joint press conference, at which the Iranian foreign minister said that Turkey had announced its readiness to host a new round of Iranian nuclear talks with the world powers.

The Turkish foreign minister's visit to Tehran came as some Western countries were pressing sanctions on Iran, forcing Tehran to step up the resumption of nuclear talks.

The West suspects that Iran's uranium enrichment may be aimed at producing nuclear weapons, a claim denied by Iranian officials.

Turkey hosted a round of nuclear talks in January 2011 between Iran and G5+1, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, but the two sides failed to reach any agreement.