Iran, Russia agree to continue nuclear talks

Russia and Iran wrapped up high-level talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme on Sunday.

Russia and Iran wrapped up high-level talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme on Sunday, with Tehran saying both sides agreed to continue negotiations and work towards a peaceful solution to the crisis.

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But the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued to rule out any climbdown in the dispute, centred on Western fears the clerical regime could acquire nuclear weapons under the guise of an atomic energy drive.

"The two delegations insisted on a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear question," the ISNA student news agency quoted a statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council as saying.

"The two parties agreed to continue their discussions," it added.

Russian National Security Council chief Igor Ivanov and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak held a series of meetings with top Iranian officials -- led by Ali Larijani, Tehran's top negotiator -- in talks lasting more than five hours.

The Russian mission followed Wednesday's meeting of senior officials from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- the five permanent UN Security Council members -- and Germany.

The major powers discussed a European proposal aimed at breaking Iran's determination to enrich uranium, a process, which can be extended from making reactor fuel to nuclear weapons.