EU hopes Obama appeal creates new start with Iran

Brussels: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Friday he hoped Iran would pay close attention to a videotaped appeal for a "new beginning" in ties with Iran by US President Barack Obama.

"I hope that that will open a new chapter in relations with Iran," he told reporters before heading into an EU summit, noting that the West still had to tackle a dispute with Tehran over its nuclear programme.