Iran, world powers next talks May 23 in Baghdad: EU

(ISTANBUL) - Iran and world powers agreed in nuclear talks Saturday to hold another, more in-depth meeting in Baghdad on May 23, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said after "constructive" discussions here.

"We expect the subsequent meetings will lead to concrete steps towards a comprehensive negotiated solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme," Ashton said.

"This is why we will meet again soon on the 23rd of May in Baghdad."

Saturday's talks between Iran and the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- the P5+1 -- had been "constructive and useful, reflecting the terms and spirit of our recent exchange of letters with Iran," she said.

Ashton warned Iran however that the next round of talks in the Iraqi capital would have to be more detailed than in Istanbul and achieve real progress.

"I have been very clear in my discussions with (chief Iranian negotiator) Dr. (Saeed) Jalili, and he has understood and agreed, that we are looking for the next meeting to take us forward in a very concrete way.

"This is a process which, if it is to be successful, will have to be sustained. It will begin by finding ways in which we can start to build the confidence of the international community," she told reporters.

"This is what we will seek to start properly in Baghdad at the end of May."

The UN Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions on Iran because of suspicions that its civilian nuclear programme is a cover for a secret atomic weapons drive, a charge Iran vigorously denies.

The international community's main concern, particularly for Iran's arch foe Israel, is Tehran's growing capacity to enrich uranium, which can be used for peaceful purposes but also, when purified further, for a nuclear weapon.