Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Commissioner Ashton reported to the EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to negotiations concerning Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23213/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 April, High Representative Ashton reported briefly to Ministers on the conduct of the latest round of talks between the E3+3 group and Iran, which took place in Almaty on 5-6 April. Further information was conveyed separately at official level by the EAS and by E3 representatives. Regrettably, the reports from Almaty all indicate that once again the Iranian side talked around the issues, engaging with some specifics but failing to address the key issues. It would appear that once again the Iranian delegation was not authorised to engage in serious discussion or to work towards a compromise understanding and agreement. If this continues to be the case, there will be no basis on which to sustain a credible political process. This will no doubt be exploited by those who argue for a military solution to this issue, a position to which Ireland is strongly opposed. I call on the Iranian authorities to reconsider their course of action and to show as a matter of urgency that they are willing to work towards a compromise diplomatic solution to this issue.