GENEVA, January 19, 19:00 /ITAR-TASS/. The political directors of a group of six nations (including five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council) will gather in Geneva on January 21 to discuss further steps to settle Iran’s nuclear programme, an informed diplomatic source told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

“I can confirm that EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is convening a meeting on Iran at the level of political directors on January 21,” the source emphasized.

He added that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Wendy Sherman, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, would represent the Russian and U.S. sides, respectively.

According to preliminary reports, Iran is not going to participate in the meeting.