The EU faces another attempt to maintain a suitable bilateral treaty with Iran concerning a peaceful nuclear programme. The negotiations are to be held today in Paris.

The first steps were taken in October 2003 when Iran first promised to suspend all work linked to the enrichment of uranium, a process of purifying uranium for use as fuel in power plants or bombs. But the talks collapsed earlier last year and were revived in December.

Both sides of the negotiations- Iran and EU - have maintained their firm positions."We both have our entrenched positions," one European diplomat close to the talks said. "With the Americans on board, the EU three couldn’t move if they wanted to."

The EU represented by France, Germany and the UK insists on abandoning Iran’s uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities. Instead they promise to provide Tehran with economic, political and technological incentives.

"If the conclusion of the steering committee is that there have been tangible and clear results, then Iran will continue the talks for another three months," Mr Mousavian said.

The EU holds that the process of suspension of uranium enrichment hasn’t been as rapid as they have suspected, nevertheless the progress is visible.

Iran reassures the public that they are using the nuclear power only for peaceful purposes, but Washington believes that behind all these ’peacefulness’ Iran is secretly trying to build a nuclear weapon.