Iran evaluating EU request to resume nuclear talks

Times--Iran was evaluating a request by the European Union to resume nuclear talks with six world power

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying that a written request was received from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on resuming talks over Iran's nuclear projects with the six powers, the website of the state-run news network Press TV reported on Monday..

Date and venue of the new round of talks have not yet been fixed, but Salehi said details would be disclosed after consulting the EU request with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The last round of talks between Iran and the six powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - led by Ashton was held in January in Istanbul but ended without any tangible results.

Ahmadinejad said after the Istanbul meeting that talks with world powers should be continued as there was still a chance for positive results.

While Iran insists that its nuclear programmes are just for civil and peaceful purposes, the world powers fear that Tehran's atomic technology could be used for secret military projects.

The nuclear talks are aimed at persuading Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment process as a sign of goodwill.

Tehran rejects any suspension, and has said it wants the powers to acknowledge its right to pursue nuclear programmes before it will engage in political cooperation.