The European Union (EU) and Iran wound up the first round of talks on
Tehran's nuclear dispute in Vienna on Saturday, with both sides
expressing satisfaction with the results of the talks.
Following more than three hours of negotiation, Iran's top nuclear negotiator
Ali Larijani told reporters that the talks focused on the incentive package
offered by six major powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the
United States -- as well as Iran's response.
The talks were "constructive" and achieved "progress" in some fields,
Larijani said.
He added that his negotiation with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
would continue on Sunday.
Solana's spokesperson Christina Gallach said Solana also found the talks with
Larijani "constructive and positive."
On Aug. 22, Iran officially responded to the six-nation incentive package,
saying it would like to negotiate on its nuclear issue. But analysts believed
that Iran's response was not "comprehensive" and some "ambiguous" explanations
needed to be clarified during the talks between Solana and Larijani.
The flurry of diplomacy followed Tehran's rejection of UN Security Council
Resolution 1696, which calls on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities by
Aug. 31.
At an informal meeting in Brussels last week, EU foreign ministers decided to
maintain serious talks with Tehran in efforts to solve Iran's nuclear issue
through diplomacy.