VIENNA, Oct 22 (AFP) - Europe's three key states are to meet with Iran next week to hear Tehran's response to their offer for it to avoid possible UN sanctions and receive nuclear technology by indefinitely suspending uranium enrichment, diplomats said Friday.
"Yes, it will be in Vienna, probably in mid-week," a diplomat close to the talks told AFP.
Britain, France and Germany had Thursday presented Iran with an EU-backed deal for it to receive valuable technology, including a light-water nuclear reactor which would produce less fissionable material than the heavy-water reactor Tehran wants to build, if it indefinitely suspended all uranium enrichment activities, said the diplomat, who asked not to be named.
The Europeans were following up on a call in September by the UN nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, for Iran to immediately suspend uranium enrichment, the process that makes fuel for civilian reactors but also the explosive material for nuclear weapons.
"We are at an initial stage, matters have to be considered on both sides," Iranian official Sirus Naseri told reporters after the three-hour meeting in Vienna.
"I think we'll get together in a matter of a few days," Naseri said Thursday.
An EU diplomat in Brussels said Friday that next week's meeting would be in "the same place, with the same people," including the political director for EU foreign affairs representative Javier Solana.
In Berlin, foreign ministry spokesman Walter Lindner said Germany wanted Iran to be given every available opportunity to continue negotiations with Europe until November 25, when the IAEA holds its next meeting.
Washington, which accuses Iran of working secretly to develop nuclear weapons, is pressuring the IAEA to refer Tehran to the UN Security Council, which could impose punishing sanctions.
The diplomat in Vienna said the talks had a difficult start as the Iranians were "aggressive. They were a little bit recriminatory saying 'you let us down, you betrayed us."
The European trio had in October 2003 struck a deal with Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, against promises of getting technology transfers.
But the deal has soured with the Europeans calling for Iran to halt all enrichment activities, including making centrifuges and the feed gas for the centrifuges which refine the uranium, and Iran saying such support activities were not included in the agreement.
Iran had expected the Europeans to get the IAEA to wrap up its investigation of the Iranian nuclear program by last June and for Tehran to get a clean bill of health on the atomic issue, which would open the door to increased trade and acquiring technology.
The diplomat said the Europeans had Thursday "tried to win the Iranians over, saying that the proposal was being presented in a careful, moderate prudent way."
The Iranians "said they hoped the proposal would be perceived in this way in the public arena," the diplomat said.
He said they said it was "very important for us" that for domestic Iranian politics they didn't look as if they had been pressured.
Another diplomat said the Europeans had presented their four-page proposal "and pressed for full suspension."
"Iran's response was that the proposal was unbalanced and that they would only agree to a temporary suspension since they would do nothing that would cut off their right to enrich uranium," the diplomat said.
The diplomat said the Iranians were expected to give a counter-proposal next week, which might call for them to reap the incentives offered "the moment they say yes to suspension, rather than waiting for a long-term agreement to be worked out."

10/22/2004 15:56 GMT - AFP