Friday, January 13 2006 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: UN chief Kofi Annan has said after a phone conversation with a top Iranian nuclear negotiator that Tehran was still interested in pursuing talks with European nations despite its decision to resume sensitive nuclear fuel work.

Annan said yesterday (Jan 12, 2006) that Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, told him that the Iranians "are interested in serious and constructive negotiation but within a time frame".