Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    VIENNA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here on Thursday that the proposals made at the foreign ministers' meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue were "serious suggestions" and hoped that Iran would resume talks with the European Union at an early date, the Austria Press Agency reported.

    "Together at the negotiating table we will be able to work out a way that would allow us to ensure Iran's legitimate right to peaceful nuclear energy and yet maintain the non-proliferation regime," Lavrov was quoted by ITAR-TASS agency as telling Russian reporters here.

    According to the Russian foreign minister, the proposals to be offered to Iran had been agreed to and accepted by all six participating countries, the five UN Security Council permanent member states, plus Germany.

    The proposals involved Iran's nuclear, trade, economic and security issues, Lavrov said, but the specific content would not be disclosed until Iran responded to them.

    He also suggested that the EU and Iran should reach agreement on ensuring Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear technology under the condition that it implemented the non-proliferation treaty.

    A U.S. State Department official welcomed the proposals, but said Tehran would have only a few weeks to respond. If it turned down the offer, the official said, the UN Security Council would take the "necessary measures."

    After five hours of negotiation on Thursday, representatives of the six countries, including some foreign ministers, reached agreement on proposing a favorable package of incentives to Iran in a bid to persuade it to halt its nuclear activities. Enditem