Iranian talk offer dismissed

Tehran: Major powers have dismissed Iran?s call for the resumption of talks with the European Union over its nuclear programme.

The frosty reaction comes after an offer from Javad Vaeedi, deputy head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to restart talks aimed at allaying fears Tehran is pursuing development of an atomic bomb.

But even staunch ally Russia has told Iran that it needed to reverse the decision it made last week to remove the seals on uranium enriching equipment before talks could begin again.

Russia?s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, said: "Talks presuppose an obligation. The Iranian obligation was to stick to the moratorium.

"Now Iran (has departed from) the moratorium on scientific research."

Other nations, who appear to be keen to have Iran referred to the UN Security Council, were more dismissive.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, said: "Talk is cheap. What they're engaged in is stirring up a lot of chaff. They've started up their diplomatic fog machine here.

"We're headed to the Security Council right now," McCormack added.

A senior British official also labeled the offer as "vacuous".