EU Says Iran Nuclear Talks Set For 21 December

Former Iranian President Khatami at the Natanz nuclear facility (file photo) (AFP) 19 December 2005 -- The European Union says Britain, France and Germany are due to start fresh talks with Iran on 21 December about Iran’s controversial nuclear program.

Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said that the talks would take place "discreetly," at the level of political directors in Vienna.

Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, told Iranian news agencies that his country will bring new proposals to the talks. He said, however, that Iran's right to develop a nuclear power program must be recognized.

The resumption of the stalled talks comes despite raised tensions caused by a series of anti-Israeli comments by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

(Reuters)