The European Union is studying a call by Iran to resume negotiations over the country's nuclear programme but still insists it must suspend uranium processing, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Monday.

"We have looked at the letter very carefully. The Iranians are under an obligation to respond positively to the resolution of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency ... and we look to them to do that," Straw told reporters before a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Separately, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana added of the letter from Teheran received by EU officials on Sunday: "We will respond ... We don't want to go any further at this point."

The September 24 IAEA resolution required that Iran be reported to the UN Security Council for non-compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and urged it to re-establish "full and sustained suspension" of all activities linked to enrichment.

Iran moved to defuse tensions over its nuclear programme on Sunday, saying it had let UN inspectors visit a military complex and calling for a revival of EU talks on the issue.

However, the EU has demanded that Teheran resume a freeze on conversion of uranium ore before negotiations can resume.

It was the first direct approach by Iran to ask for talks since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has adopted a tougher foreign policy stance than his reformist predecessor, took office in August.

The letter from chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani came days after Teheran recalled dozens of its ambassadors, including in those countries involved in the nuclear talks and among them envoys seen as holding relatively moderate foreign policy views.

No sanctions threat

EU foreign ministers were due to review the bloc's policy of engagement with Iran following Teheran's decision to restart part of its nuclear programme and Ahmadinejad's statement last month that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

A draft of conclusions to be agreed later by EU ministers contained no threat of sanctions on Teheran but said ties with Iran would be kept "under close review in light of progress on the nuclear file and other issues of concern."

The draft also scolded Teheran for what it called "serious violations" of human rights concerning political prisoners and juvenile executions. It urged it to lift trade sanctions against Britain, imposed last month because of its opposition to nuclear activities.

Source: China Daily