UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that he hoped the Iranian nuclear issue could be solved through discussions.

    Annan told reporters after his monthly luncheon with Security Council members that it is essential to break the current impasse and find a solution.

    "I believe that the best way to break the impasse is to continue the discussions," he said, adding that the European Union(EU) and Iran should continue their search for a solution that is "in conformity with international norms and the resolutions."

    "I have indications from both sides that they are prepared to continue the search for a solution," Annan noted.

    He pointed out that what Iranians are doing was not in conformity with the Paris agreement as endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), referring to the fact that the Iranians removed seals at a uranium processing plant on Wednesday and started their conversion activities.

    "I hope that all sides will desist from any action that will lead to any further escalation and continue the process at the table," the Secretary-General stressed.

    Meanwhile, Annan noted that the issue is before the board of the IAEA and they will make a decision, implicating the Security Council will not discuss the issue at this moment.

    He also urged Iran to keep restraint and continue the dialogue with the EU.

    The IAEA confirmed that the last seals on Iran's uranium conversion facilities in the central city Isfahan were removed by the UN nuclear watchdog inspectors Wednesday afternoon, marking a complete unsealing of the sensitive nuclear site. Enditem