Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana agreed yesterday to pursue talks aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis, state television reported.
Their telephone talks came just days after European Union nations last week introduced fresh sanctions against Iran over its atomic drive, which Western nations fear could be a cover for a secret nuclear weapons program.
The two sides agreed to continue negotiations in a constructive atmosphere, the television said. Solana and Jalili voiced satisfaction at the constructive trend of negotiations in Geneva and the contacts afterwards.
In Brussels, Solana's office confirmed the conversation but gave no details.
Jalili met on July 19 in Geneva with Solana, who is the point man for the six major powers, which have offered Iran a package of incentives in return for a freeze in uranium enrichment activities. They also spoke by phone on August 4.
On Friday, the presidency of the 27-member EU announced new sanctions against Iran, including restrictions on public loans and tougher cargo inspections.
The move came after Tehran gave an ambiguous answer to the demands of the six nations - U.N. Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.
Iran is facing a possible fourth round of U.N. Security Council sanctions over its refusal to halt enrichment, a process which makes nuclear fuel but also the core of an atomic bomb.
The European Union and the United States have also imposed restrictions on the activities of Iran's largest banks, which are running in parallel to the three sets of sanctions agreed by the Security Council.
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Despite the talks between Jalili and Solana, Iran still proceeds with its process to make nuclear fuel rich which is also the kernel of an atomic bomb.