EU Official Pushes Iran on Nuclear Plans

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad joins his hands during a public gathering in the city of Karaj, 21 miles (35 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. Ahmadinejad on Thursday rejected demands that Tehran suspend its uranium enrichment activities, saying his government was determined to continue pursuing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) (Vahid Salemi - AP)

LEVI, Finland -- The EU foreign policy chief said he was resuming talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator and warned Monday that the time for continuing negotiations on Tehran's atomic program was limited.

But Javier Solana denied he was running out of patience.

"We don't have an infinite length of time in front of us," he told reporters. "I'm not tired and I'm patient because I think that what we have at stake is very important."

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a EU defense ministers meeting, he said he would talk by telephone with Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani later Monday.

Solana has been leading negotiations with Larijani on behalf of Britain, France, Germany, China, the United States and Russia, which are seeking to persuade Iran to suspend work on processing uranium in return for a package of incentives.

"We have made progress on some elements but still what is fundamental for us, which is the matter of suspension, has not been finally agreed," Solana said.

Iran's hardline president said Sunday his country was determined to expand its uranium enrichment program, announcing a plan to produce more nuclear fuel. He denied Iran was seeking to build nuclear weapons and said the program was for generating electricity.

On Friday, the Bush administration repeated threats to seek U.N. sanctions unless the negotiations end successfully. However, Russia and China, which have veto rights at the Security Council, are wary of sanctions.

Igor Ivanov, the secretary of Russia's presidential Security Council, was scheduled to travel to Iran for talks with Larijani on Tuesday, Russian news agencies said Monday.

The process of uranium enrichment can be used to produce electricity or build nuclear weapons depending on the level of enrichment. The U.S. alleges Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons, but Iran contends that its program is for peaceful purposes.

Iran defied a U.N. Security Council deadline calling on it to suspend enrichment by Aug. 31 or face possible international sanctions.