EU Will Try to Clarify Tehran’s Nuclear Stance

The European Union agreed to try to clarify Iran’s nuclear stance within two weeks, and Iran told visiting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan it wanted fresh negotiations on the issue.

Annan’s visit to Iran took place two days after the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported that Tehran had failed to meet the U.N. Security Council’s deadline to suspend uranium enrichment work.

The United States, which accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, said Friday it was consulting European governments about possible sanctions, but the EU signaled it wanted more discussions with Tehran, which says its nuclear activity is aimed at producing energy.