The Iranian President, Mr Mohammad Khatami, has said talks and negotiations are the only way to resolve Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.
"We are ready to assure the world that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons and I believe the only way is through talks and reaching an understanding," Mr Khatami told reporters today.
Iranian officials are due to meet with senior diplomats from Britain Germany and France in Vienna tomorrow to receive a proposal giving Tehran a final chance to halt uranium enrichment plans or face possible UN sanctions.
Iranian officials say they are open to talks but will never give up uranium enrichment - a process which can be used to make fuel for nuclear reactors or material for atom bombs.
"I don't know what the (EU trio's) proposal is but we are ready for talks," Mr Khatami said.
"But at the same time we are expecting that they do not force us to abandon peaceful nuclear technology under the full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency," he added.