Six world powers will discuss Iran's disputed nuclear activity today after hints of Iranian readiness to compromise in talks with the EU.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani said they made progress in talks to explore a basis for formal negotiations to end a stalemate over Tehran's pursuit of technology that could yield atom bombs.
An EU diplomat said Mr Larijani offered a two-month enrichment freeze during seven hours of talks with Mr Solana in Vienna that both sides described as constructive.
But it was unclear if Iran would meet Western demands to suspend enrichment before negotiations to implement an offer of trade incentives not to enrich uranium. A senior Iranian official said no such suspension proposal was made.
The EU diplomat said the gesture did not appear significant since the United States and others want a long-term suspension to restore international confidence that Iran's nuclear programme is aimed only at generating electricity, as it insists.
Mr Solana and Mr Larijani said the talks were good enough to warrant another round, possibly on Thursday, calling into question a US timetable to start drafting punitive trade and financial sanctions in the Security Council this week.