The six world powers and Iran will discuss ways of reaching a comprehensive nuclear deal on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in September, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said.
"There are ongoing discussions on that (Iran nuclear issue)," Catherine Ashton told a press conference in Milan on Saturday when asked if nuclear talks would take place in New York around mid-September, Reuters reported.
Ashton, the EU's top diplomat, is expected to continue to lead nuclear negotiations with Iran even as she leaves her EU job at the end of October.
Ashton is due to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels on Monday.
Iran and the six world powers have been in talks over a final and permanent solution to their nuclear standoff ever since they signed an interim deal in Geneva in November. On July 20, the deadline for reaching a final agreement on Iran's future nuclear activities was postponed by four months—until November 24—to give more time for diplomatic efforts.
Zarif and Ashton in a joint statement after over two weeks of talks stressed the need for more efforts and time to reach an agreement with the world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.
The two officials who presided the negotiating sides, emphasized at the end of Iran-world powers negotiations that they have held different sessions in different forms and in a constructive atmosphere to reach a final comprehensive agreement.
Due to certain differences over some fundamental issues the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action by November 24, they added.