Solana says talks with Iran envoy constructive

LISBON, June 23 (Reuters) European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said his talks today with Iran's nuclear chief were constructive and he hoped for another round in three weeks.

''It has been a constructive meeting ... I have to tell you that probably in three weeks we will try to see if we can meet again,'' Solana told reporters after four hours of discussions with Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani in Lisbon.

Larijani said Iran wanted to settle its nuclear dispute with the West through diplomacy, adding that his meeting with Solana was good.

Iran, OPEC's second-largest oil exporter, says it needs nuclear power to generate electricity to be able to export more of its valuable oil and gas.

Tehran has so far refused to suspend its sensitive uranium enrichment work as demanded the UN Security Council. The Islamic state says its nuclear programme has passed the point of no return.

Six world powers -- the United States, Britain, Russia, France, Germany and China -- had begun discussing a third series of UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear defiance.

Asked whether a new UN sanctions resolution could end his talks with Solana, Larijani said :''If some adventure-seeking countries want to interrupt the process of diplomacy, this may have some effects.'' Solana said he hoped the talks would go on.

''I hope very much that there will be the possibility of us to continue our negotiation,'' Solana said.

REUTERS PDS BST0321