Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on Thursday that nuclear talks with the EU'S foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton were "long and useful" and that both sides have decided to continue the discussions. "Last night, as Lady Ashton said, we had long, useful talks," Jalili said in Istanbul. "We had the chance to go into details. We decided to continue working and keep on our talks." Ashton called the talks "useful" in a statement on Wednesday and said it was time to "reflect on how to go to the next stage of the process".

Nuclear talks between Iran and the UN atomic agency failed yet again Wednesday, as a top US diplomat said she expected the IAEA to report Tehran to the UN Security Council soon. The IAEA announcement came just as EU foreign policy chief was due to meet Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in Istanbul for the first time since failed six-party talks in April. "We could not finalise the structured approach document that has been under negotiation for a year and a half," the International Atomic Energy Agency's chief inspector told reporters.

Iran held two sets of talks Wednesday aimed at easing tensions over its nuclear programme, but prospects for any breakthrough were low ahead of next month's elections in the Islamic republic. In Vienna, the UN atomic agency, the IAEA, pressed Iranian officials to grant access to sites, documents and scientists involved in Tehran's alleged efforts to develop atomic weapons.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on Saturday registered to stand in the June 14 presidential election, joining several conservative hopefuls aiming to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Jalili, 47, filed his papers at the interior ministry but did not speak to reporters, an AFP correspondent said. A veteran of the 1980s war with Iraq in which he lost his right leg, Jalili had previously not expressed an intention to seek office.