Iran urges EU to take logical stand on nuclear talks

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani urged the European Union (EU) Thursday to take a logical stand in order to break the deadlock on nuclear negotiations between the two sides, state television reported.

"Europe had better adopt a logical approach toward meeting mutual interests and building up confidence, rather than throwing obstacles on the way of mutual understanding and collaboration," Larijani was quoted as saying.

He reiterated Iran's willingness to continue nuclear talks and expressed regret over the recent decision of the EU trio to cancel negotiations with Iran scheduled for Aug. 31.

"Iran sticks to the policy of continuing talks in order to build confidence and win international trust, and we welcome talks with all of the IAEA Board members," Larijani said.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that France, Britain and Germany decided to cancel the negotiations on Aug. 31 on EU's proposal made earlier this month because Tehran had resumed uranium conversion work in breach of the agreement to freeze it while talks lasted.

Under the Paris Agreement reached in November 2004, Iran voluntarily suspended all activities related to uranium enrichment while negotiating a permanent deal with the EU.

Earlier this month the EU trio offered a package of economic , technical and political measures in exchange for Iran's abandonment of effort to enrich nuclear fuel.

Iran rejected the proposal for failing to respect its legal right to peaceful nuclear development and restarted its uranium conversion plant in Isfahan on Aug. 8 regardless of EU warning to refer its nuclear case to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the veil of civilian use of atomic energy, a charge rejected by Tehran.

Larijani, a hardliner, was appointed as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council on Aug. 15 by new Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Source: Xinhua