EU-Iran Nuclear Talks Delayed

Talks between Iranian top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had been tentatively set for today in Vienna.

An Iranian diplomat said the talks are likely to be held in the Austrian capital in a "couple of days." Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said in Vienna that there was "no particular reason" for the delay.

The United States has led international concerns that Iran is covertly trying to develop a nuclear weapons program. Tehran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

In an apparent sign of international impatience, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today Moscow was considering support for UN economic sanctions against Iran.

However, Lavrov said Russia still had reservations about imposing sanctions and underlined Moscow's opposition to any military action.

(Reuters, AFP, AP)