Confusion surrounds the outcome of weekend talks between Iran's top nuclear negotiator and the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. After the end of Sunday's session in Vienna, a spokesman for Ali Larijani said they'd cleared up some misunderstandings and would meet again in the coming week.

However Iranian officials denied reports that Tehran offered to suspend its uranium enrichment programme for two months.

The Vienna talks had been regarded as a last chance to explore a face-saving compromise before possible punitive action after Iran ignored a UN Security Council deadline last month to stop purifying uranium to use as nuclear fuel.

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