Nuclear talks between Iran, EU to continue Sun

VIENNA, Sept. 10 Kyodo

Last-minute talks between Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana will continue Sunday, Larijani and Solana's spokeswoman said Saturday.

The talks are an attempt to restart negotiations between Iran and the permanent U.N. Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany, to find a solution to the conflict over Tehran's nuclear program.

''We had long talks and discussed different issues,'' Larijani said after the meeting, which took place at Vienna's federal chancellery building.

''We had good and constructive talks,'' he added. ''We made some progress on some issues and shall continue tomorrow.''

Solana called the talks ''positive and constructive,'' said his spokeswoman Cristina Gallach.

The talks began Saturday afternoon and lasted well over three hours. Larijani and Solana will continue their talks Sunday morning, the spokeswoman said after the meeting.

The aim of the talks is to avoid sanctions from the powerful U.N. council. The United States has called for a new resolution, including sanctions, to be drafted as early as next week.

The permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany met Friday in Berlin to discuss Iran's rejection of a package of far-reaching proposals in exchange for suspending uranium enrichment.

Iran rejected both the precondition of suspending enrichment and an earlier U.N. Security Council resolution calling for suspension.

Larijani said both the six nations' proposal as well as Iran's response were discussed Saturday.

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