Iran and the Europe Union (EU) are most likely to hold a new round of nuclear talks in Brussels, Belgium, on May 24, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday.

"In principle the meeting will take place in Brussels. It has, however, not been formally confirmed. Details are being finalized," IRNA quoted EU diplomatic sources in Brussels as saying.

Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Hassan Rowhani is expected to attend the negotiations and meet foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain as well as EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the report said.

Last week, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, and Solana sent a letter to Rowhani, inviting him for emergency talks to defuse a looming crisis over Iran's nuclear program, added the report.

Iran, accused by the United States of developing nuclear weapons secretly, has been in talks with the EU since it froze enrichment activities last November in exchange for the EU's promised economic and technological incentives.

The bilateral talks on Iran's nuclear case reached a deadlock after Tehran, impatient of the "prolonged negotiations," in late April announced an immediate resumption of some suspended uranium enrichment activities.

The EU and Washington soon warned Tehran that it would face " serious consequences" if it really carried out the sensitive activities.

At the request of the EU, the United Nations and such countries as Russia and Spain, Iran said on May 15 that it was to hold an extra round of talks with the EU but warned that it would be Europe's last chance to save its diplomatic efforts on the Iranian nuclear issue.

Rowhani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, has said that Iran would not compromise on its legal and legitimate international rights but might delay the resumption for several weeks.

Source: Xinhua