The E3+3 meeting with Iran in Istanbul is taking place at a time of great tension in the region.
One thing is clear: the time for any kind of tactical games is long gone. We expect Iran to be ready to sit down constructively with us for serious and targeted negotiations on all outstanding issues, especially its nuclear programme.
Germany and its partners in the E3+3 are ready.
The negotiations launched in Istanbul will be anything but easy. We are quite aware of that. But I am confident that, with sense and a degree of proportion on all sides, we will be able to set in motion a process of dialogue which will culminate in a political solution acceptable to all.