Iran calls for resumption of nuclear talks with Europe

Published on 07/11/2005 01:32

IRAN sought to defuse tensions over its nuclear programme yesterday, calling for a resumption of European Union talks on the issue and confirming that it had let UN inspectors visit a military complex.

Iran is reported to have written to Britain, France and Germany, calling for a revival of negotiations which broke down in August.

The International Atomic Energy Agency could, when it meets this month, discuss sending Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council, where Tehran could face sanctions.

But in a further sign Iran wants to avoid confrontation, it confirmed that it had allowed UN nuclear inspectors to visit a base suspected by the United States of links to a covert nuclear weapons programme.

In the letter, Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council,

is said to have called for "constructive and logical negotiations" with the three European states.

It is the first such direct approach since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became Iran's president in August.