It is necessary to involve Iran in dialogue, and the sides "agreed to continue mutually advantageous talks," Lavrov said, referring to a meeting of foreign ministers from six major countries in New York on May 8, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The EU is set to offer a cooperation deal in its latest bid to find a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue. Three major European powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- are considering supplying Iran with a light-water nuclear reactor as part of the deal to persuade Tehran to give up its controversial nuclear program, diplomats in Vienna said on Tuesday.

"Such proposals are being prepared. We hope that Iran will respond constructively. This is the only way to settle the situation," Lavrov said after talks with his Sudanese counterpart Lam Akol.

"I'm pleased that certain states whose policy was aimed at isolating Iran and imposing sanctions have agreed to enter direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program," he said.

The EU wants to convince Tehran to abandon its uranium enrichment activities and curb its heavy-water nuclear reactor program.

It is more difficult to generate plutonium, which could be usedto produce nuclear weapons, from a light-water nuclear reactor.

Iran resumed nuclear fuel research in January, prompting the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, to report its case to the UN Security Council in February.

Tehran denies the U.S. charge of developing nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, insisting on its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.