EU, Iran likely to reach deal on nuke talks: officials

European Union (EU) leaders are likely to strike a deal with Iran at talks starting Friday in Paris where they will persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium to end the disputes over the country's nuclear program, officials said in Brussels on Thursday.

There are "clear indications" that the Iranian government wantsto pursue dialogue with other parties on its nuclear issue, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country holds the current EU presidency, told a press conference before an EU summit.

Officials from Britain, France and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials Friday in Paris to find ways to disperse international suspicion over Iran's nuclear program.

"It is more helpful to continue the dialogue and to convince the Iranians that there are other means if you want to have a nuclear program," Bot said.

Bot said the EU is offering "a bunch of carrots" that include trade deals and peaceful nuclear technology in return for Tehran'sagreement to suspend uranium enrichment activities indefinitely.

"Tomorrow we will get an answer from the Iranian government," he said.

The Iranian delegation has arrived in the French capital for negotiation.

Pirouz Hosseini, Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), did not rule out the possibility of an agreement during the Paris meeting, saying it would depend on the EU proposals.

"Iran has time and again stressed that it could agree to voluntary and definite suspension of the enrichment program," Hosseini was quoted by Iran's official IRNA news agency as saying.

"The two parties would prefer to hold the talks in a positive, constructive and ambiguity-free atmosphere," Hosseini said.

EU officials also said European leaders will stress the importance of the Paris talks to Iran as an opportunity to stave off possible economic sanctions by the UN Security Council.

The United States has threatened to refer Iran's nuclear issue to the UN Security Council if Iran fails to stop all uranium enrichment activities.

Meanwhile, Bot denied the speculation over US military strikes against Iran to force it to bow to the demand.

"I don't think we're thinking of military strikes. I think thatwould be counter-productive," he said.

Source: Xinhua