European Union Foreign Policy Chief Ashton: Negotiations between Tehran and world powers could begin soon; A sum of 32 to 33 million Iranians votes in Iran’s ninth parliamentary elections; Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: British foreign secretary’s
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    • According to reports, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has noted that that negotiations between Tehran and world powers could begin soon. Ashton said that an offer of dialogue issued by chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on February 14 "suggests we should consider getting into talks." Jalili wrote to Ashton on February 14 offering negotiations and proposing they resume in Turkey. The top EU diplomat represents the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany in talks with Iran. She said those states were working "to look at whether we think it is sufficient to get into talks and I am cautiously optimistic about that." 1

    In another development, according to reports, informed sources said that a sum of 32 to 33 million Iranians have voted in the country's 9th parliamentary elections on March 2, putting the public participation rate at around 66%. Although official sources, including interior ministry and Guardian Council officials, have not released any figure about the number of participants in Iran's 9th parliamentary elections. Over 48 million Iranian voters were eligible to cast their ballots in the legislative polls. More than 5,400 have registered to run in the race for the 290 parliamentary seats. The Guardian Council had approved the competence of more than 3,269 hopefuls. 2

    In other developments, according to reports, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast dismissed as baseless British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s claims about Iran’s March 2 parliamentary election. According to Reuters, Hague claimed that Iran’s parliamentary election was not free and fair and did not reflect the will of the people. He has said that “It has been clear for some time that these elections would not be free and fair. The (Iranian government) has presented the vote as a test of loyalty, rather than an opportunity for people freely to choose their own representatives.” Mehmanparast said that British foreign secretary’s remarks once again revealed British officials’ interventionist policies and their frustration out of the failure of their hostile plans against the Islamic Republic of Iran. 3

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