EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana stated that talks on Iran’s nuclear programme will likely be held in Turkey from October 1. Solana also noted that a US delegation will be formally represented at the talks and urged the Iranians to positively evaluate this development. The five UN Security Council permanent members along with Germany are scheduled to take part in the talks1.

Thousands of Iranians took part in the annual al-Quds Day march on September 17. Ayatollah Khomeini in August 1979 had declared that the last Friday of the month of Ramadan be celebrated as the al-Quds Day as a mark of solidarity with the Palestinians. A statement issued at the end of the rally warned Israel against "any new adventurism" in the region2.

In other developments, reports noted that a group of Iranian hard-liners attacked the reformist former president Mohammad Khatami when he was taking part in an anti-government rally in Tehran3.

• 1. “Iran nuclear talks probably in Turkey: Solana,” Khaleej Times, September 15, 2009, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...
• 2. “Iranians begin Quds Day march,” Khaleej Times, September 18, 2009, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...
• 3. “Hard-liners attack reformist ex-President,” Khaleej Times, September 18, 2009, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...