In this Jan. 21, 2011 file photo Iran's Chief Nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, left, and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton talk as they arrive for talks between Iran and world powers on Iran's nuclear program, Istanbul, (AP).
Iran offers nothing new in a letter in which it agrees to resume international talks on its nuclear programme and it does not seem to justify a new meeting, the European Union said Wednesday.
"We are surprised to hear the Iranians talking about meetings. They have not been in touch with us with any proposals," said Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
"On its own, Dr Jalili's letter does not contain anything new and does not seem to justify a further meeting," she said, referring to chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
"We will be in touch with the Iranians with the aim to create the basis for a new dialogue," the spokeswoman added.
Iran said Tuesday it had sent a letter to Ashton in which it formally agreed to resume talks with six major powers that have stalled since January, when a round in Istanbul failed to produce a breakthrough.
At the talks, Iran insisted its sensitive uranium enrichment work was not up for debate and called for international sanctions to be lifted as a precondition for talks on a possible nuclear fuel swap.
Ashton sent a letter to Tehran in February inviting Iran to return to the negotiating table without preconditions.
The chief EU diplomat coordinates the talks on behalf of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia -- and Germany.
"We welcome your return to the negotiations based on cooperation on the common points," Jalili was quoted as saying in the letter, according to a report by Iran's Al-Alam television.
Iran says negotiations must revolve around a package given to world powers three years ago that does not specifically mention its own programme but insists on talking about global nuclear disarmament and world security.
Jalili said "the developments in recent months have shown that Iran's proposal package three years ago was based on the correct understanding of the realities."
He added that "respecting the nation's rights and refraining from pressure are the two main pillars of cooperation."
At the close of the Istanbul talks, Ashton told reporters that "it remains essential that Iran demonstrates that its nuclear programme is peaceful."
"We had hoped to embark on a discussion of practical ways forward, and have made every effort to make that happen. I am disappointed to say that this has not been possible," she added.
Before his country announced it was ready to resume talks, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday that Tehran welcomes "the wish of the 5+1 Group to return to the path of negotiations."
"We have always been ready for talks, and we are ready today," he said, adding that the nuclear issue can be solved "in an hour-long meeting."
"Based on law, it is the Iranian nation's right to acquire the enrichment technology," he said.
"But the reality is that other policies under the guise of the nuclear issue are put on the table. It is clear that some Western governments do not want us to develop (in the nuclear field)."
World powers suspect Iran is masking a weapons drive under the pretext of a civilian nuclear programme, a charge Tehran denies.
Iran's nuclear programme has already been the subject of six UN Security Council resolutions, plus unilateral measures imposed by the United States and the EU.
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