Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that Iran was optimistic about the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the European Union (EU)but would not accept imposed outlines of the talks.

"Iran is not pessimistic...but it does not permit the others to draw the outlines of talks and to impose them on the country, "Larijani said in an exclusive interview with the official IRNA news agency in Pretoria, South Africa.

Larijani pointed out that the EU had also voiced willingness to resume the talks.

However, the negotiator stressed that Iran would pursue "goal-oriented" and "logical" negotiations which can assure the country of the possibility of achieving its rights through the negotiations.

"The important point for us is recognition of our natural right to take peaceful advantage of the nuclear energy," Larijani said. He added that Tehran had "met all its commitments" to the cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and therefore "quite naturally" expected its rights to be preserved.

The nuclear talks between Iran and the EU trio of Britain, France and Germany have stalled since Tehran resumed uranium conversion activities, a precursor of the highly sensitive uranium enrichment, in early August.

As a result, the IAEA board of governors adopted a EU-drafted resolution on Sept. 24, accusing Tehran of repeatedly breaching international nuclear safeguards in a move to put off a referral of its case to the UN Security Council.

The EU asked Tehran to resume suspension of all enrichment related activities as precondition to reopen talks, a demand rejected by Iran.

The United States accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons but Tehran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is completely peaceful.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2005)