GENEVA, Feb 8 (AFP) - Iranian and European officials began a new round of talks Tuesday, sources close to the delegations said here, in a fresh attempt to resolve arguments blocking an accord on Tehran`s nuclear programme.
The discussions in Geneva, due to last until Thursday, come after similar talks in December in Brussels and in this Swiss city last month.
They have brought together experts and officials from Iran as well as Britain, France and Germany, the three countries representing the European Union.
Discussions are at a critical stage, with Iran and the EU big three in flat disagreement over the most crucial point -- that Tehran must abandon uranium enrichment altogether in order to guarantee it is not trying to make nuclear weapons, as Washington claims.
Iran insists that it has the right under international treaties to work on the nuclear fuel cycle.
Under a deal with the EU nations last November, Iran has suspended uranium enrichment-related activities in return for talks aimed at giving the Islamic republic trade, security and technology bonuses.
Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for atomic power reactors but also the core for nuclear weapons.
02/08/2005 11:43 GMT - AFP