TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- An Iranian diplomat said on Thursday in Brussels that Iran and the European Union (EU) had ended a new round of political negotiations "on a positive note", the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "The negotiations were good. The atmosphere was positive and understanding. Both sides are interested in continuing the work that we have started," Ebrahim Rahimpour, head of the Iranian delegation to the talks, was quoted as saying.

    However, Rahimpour said there was convergence of views on several issues discussed during the meeting.

    "Negotiations will continue in a more positive atmosphere which now prevails for closer political and economic cooperation," he stressed, adding the next round of EU-Iran political and trade negotiations would be held in Tehran in two months.

    On Thursday morning, representatives of the EU and Iran in Brussels kicked off the political talks, one day after the two sides resumed negotiations on trade and economic cooperation. The negotiations covered issues such as human rights, regional security in the Middle East, the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

    Such negotiations, launched initially in December 2002, was suspended after June 2003 due to the EU concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

    On Nov. 22, Iran suspended its sensitive uranium enrichment activities, paving the way to resume bilateral talks. Enditem