Iran insisted today that it wanted to return to nuclear negotiations with the European Union but gave no ground on the EU's key demand that it halt all nuclear fuel processing before talks can resume.
Britain, France and Germany have said they want Iran to halt uranium processing at its Isfahan plant which Tehran resumed in August. Otherwise, the EU trio say, they will back US efforts to haul Iran before the UN Security Council where it could eventually face sanctions.
Iran says its nuclear programme will only be used to generate electricity, not make bombs. "We are ready to continue unconditional talks and hope to reach a result through talks and avoid the Council," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news conference.
Almost two years of talks between Iran and the EU broke down in August when Tehran broke UN seals at the Isfahan plant where uranium is converted into a gas that can be used to make nuclear reactor fuel or bomb warheads.
"Iran will never again suspend Isfahan facility's activities. It was a voluntary measure and was lifted automatically," Mr Asefi said.
Washington and the EU are trying to persuade the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send Iran to the Security Council in November for violating international nuclear obligations.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice failed yesterday to win Russia's support for referring Iran to the Council, but said Washington still expects to be able to refer Tehran to the Council "at a time of our choosing" if diplomatic efforts fail.