http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=500569BUDAPEST, Hungary Feb 15, 2005 — Iranian Foreign Minister Kamel Kharrazi said Tuesday he was hopeful his country could reach a fruitful agreement with European Union countries on Iran's nuclear activities.
The European Union is trying to persuade Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment program, which the United States fears could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. Iran insisted again Tuesday that its nuclear activities are peaceful.
"(The negotiations) are moving, but the final evaluation will be by mid-March," Kharrazi said after a meeting with Katalin Szili, Hungary's parliament speaker. "We have to wait until then to have exactly our conclusion on how the negotiations have gone."
Iran suspended its uranium enrichment program last year under a deal struck with France, Britain and Germany. Iran plans to decide soon whether to continue the suspension, which is monitored by U.N. nuclear inspectors.