French Foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told a news conference that there had been "a number of hints of movement, including the fact that Iran has apparently agreed to talk about the question of a suspension. That for us is a positive development," he said.

"I see that there are a number of rumblings which are interesting, notably the fact that Iran has apparently accepted to discuss the question of suspension," he added.

The Iranians "appear to feel the written response they sent us on the subject was insufficient", and have "agreed to provide a more detailed explanation," said the spokesman.

Iran has said it was ready to discuss the suspension of uranium enrichment, without freezing the work, in a response to an incentives package offered by the five UN Security Council members plus Germany.