Iran has an option to hold emergency talks with the European Union countries over the controversial nuclear program, according to people familiar with the matter.

The move comes amid the efforts from both parties to save the talks that failed after Iran said it would resume converting raw uranium into uranium hexoflouride. The process that is an initial stage the enrichment of uranium that has been suspended by Iran since 2003.

The talks between Iran’s highest nuclear negotiator and delegates from the EU are scheduled for May 23, despite the absence of any confirmation from European negotiators. The Paris agreement of 2004 would be breached if Iran resumes the convertion, said the so-called EU-3 - Britain, France and Germany.

Iran is not so optimistic about the negotiations, though. “I want to emphasise the chances for success are not so high. The Europeans haven’t left much room for negotiation,” Hossein Mousavian, an Iranian negotiator, said Monday.

The May 23 meeting will probably be held in Brussels, Geneva or Paris.