Friday, July 7 2006 11:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Brussels: Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said he was prepared to open 'serious' negotiations next week on international efforts to defuse the current nuclear standoff with Tehran.

Larijani, who met EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana Thursday for long-awaited nuclear talks here, said real 'work' on an international package of incentives for Tehran if it suspends uranium enrichment would begin July 11.

"We are serious about continuing negotiations and we are going to start our talks next Tuesday," Larijani said before sitting down to a working dinner with Solana.

Welcoming Larijani, Solana said he hoped to secure a deal which would be beneficial to both parties.

"We are going to work, not talk much," said Solana.

EU diplomats said details of the dinner discussions would be kept confidential until the formal opening of negotiations next week.

The Iranian official's meeting with Solana next week comes a day before Germany, France, Britain, the US, China and Russia were to meet in Paris to discuss the nuclear standoff with Iran. The US has made it clear it wants an answer by July 12.

The issue is also expected to top the agenda of the Group of Eight (G8) summit talks in St. Petersburg, which opens July 15.

Larijani was originally scheduled to meet Solana on July 5 but delayed his visit at the last minute because of the presence of Iranian opposition groups at the European Parliament. The talks will centre on EU demands that Iran respond rapidly to an international offer made last month to provide Tehran with a package of incentives if it agrees to suspend uranium enrichment.

An EU statement said the meeting would provide an opportunity to create conditions for the start of negotiations with Iran. The EU and the US, which fear that Iran is building nuclear weapons, have said they want Tehran to give a straight answer to the package, which includes an offer to transfer civilian nuclear technology to Iran.

But Iran, which says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, has said it opposes any deadlines and wants further clarification on the international package. The European offer includes a range of incentives for Iran but also a stark warning that continued deadlock could mean the issue will be taken to the UN Security Council for discussions on possible sanctions.