TEHRAN - Top Iranian cleric and presidential election frontrunner Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Wednesday that Tehran should continue talks with the European Union on it nuclear programme and that both sides needed to show more patience.
"There is not an impasse. The situation is difficult, but the only solution is to continue with the negotiations," Rafsanjani told reporters as he formally registered his candidacy for the June 17 election.
"The Europeans should be patient and we should be patient in building confidence," said Rafsanjani, who has served as president from 1989 and 1997 and is campaigning for a comeback as a more moderate conservative.
His comments came as Iran appeared determined to back away from a November 2004 deal with Britain, France and Germany and end its suspension of some nuclear activities linked to the sensitive process of enriching uranium.
Iran's fuel cycle ambitions are the focus of international fears the country may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons, and a move by Iran to violate the accord could see the country referred to the UN Security Council.
05/11/2005 12:13 GMT