EU-Iran talks postponed to tomorrow - Solana

BRUSSELS, July 5 (Reuters) Iran postponed crucial nuclear talks with the European Union at the last minute today but Tehran's top nuclear negotiator will meet the EU's foreign policy chief twice in the next week, an EU statement said.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he would meet Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani tomorrow and on July 11, and made clear the West wanted a quick answer to the package of incentives backed by major powers for Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

''I was surprised to hear that Ali Larijani ... has decided at the last minute to postpone his trip to Brussels as previously agreed with him to take place today,'' Solana said in the statement.

''I have made clear to the Iranians and to Dr Larijani that we want to proceed rapidly to examine the ideas I put to him early last month,'' he said.

Reutes CH GC1617