Still open to talks ahead of Security Council: Iran

Vienna, Mar 8: Iran remains open to talks to resolve its nuclear standoff with the West despite pending UN Security Council action over its case, Tehran's envoy said in a statement to be given to the UN nuclear watchdog today.

''We keep the doors open for negotiations to resolve the issue.

We are of the belief that (more) time is needed for this effort to bear fruit,'' Aliasghar Soltanieh said, according to a text obtained by Reuters.

He also said, however, that the International Atomic Energy Agency board's finding that Iran had failed to heed safeguards designed to prevent secret development of nuclear weapons was ''the biggest blunder in the agency's history''. Iran has said the decision will worsen a volatile standoff with the West.

REUTERS

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