VIENNA, Dec. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran and the European Union ended their talks on Wednesday and they agreed to hold more negotiations in January to seek ways of resolving differences over Iran's nuclear issue.

    "We agreed to continue our talks in January. Regarding the location, we have agreed on Vienna," Javad Vaeedi, head of the Iranian delegation, told reporters.

    Vaeedi added the five-hour meeting offered the two sides an opportunity to know each other's positions.

    An EU representative also said the exploratory talks between Iran and the "EU3"-- France, Britain and Germany-- were held in a frank atmosphere, and both sides elaborated their views at the meeting.

    Another Iranian diplomat said the meeting was held with the aim to set a framework for continuing negotiations. He hoped the discussions in January would provide more chances for the two sides to settle their differences.

    The Wednesday meeting was the first exploratory talks between Teheran and Brussels for resuming their nuclear negotiations which have been deadlocked since August when Iran restarted uranium conversion activities, a precursor to enrichment.

    Enriched uranium can fuel nuclear power reactor or be used to make atom bombs.

    The EU has asked Iran to consider a Russian proposal which allows Iran to conduct uranium conversion activities on condition that the enrichment be moved to Russia, so as to prevent Teheran from using the nuclear technology for military purpose.

    Teheran has insisted on the right to enrich uranium on its own soil and invited foreign companies to participate in its nuclear program to guarantee its fully peaceful nature.

    Several analysts believe if the dialogues collapse again, the EU will possibly urge the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold an emergency session and call for a referral of the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council. Enditem