Catherine Ashton arrives at a press conference on April 14 in Istanbul. BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images

Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, has long endured a mixed press in Britain for the way she handles her considerable portfolio.

But it would be wrong not to note the genuine plaudits she received from a number of diplomats over the weekend for the way she managed Saturday’s talks between Iran and world powers in Istanbul.

As co-ordinator of the six powers which negotiate with Iran over its nuclear programme (the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China), Ashton has a difficult role.

These six countries have long had differing views over how to treat Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Read more