Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Tuesday his country wanted serious discussions with the European Union on Iran's nuclear programme as well as its relations with the E.U. "We are optimistic," the foreign minister said after talks with Luxembourg's deputy foreign minister Nicolas Schmit on the current negotiations between the Islamic Republic and E.U. nations France, Germany and Britain. The E.U. is seeking a binding pledge from Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapons programme in return for improved trade and political relations. "We are doing our best. Both sides have to do their best to reach tangible results. Refraining from statements that may be provocative and disruptive" would help, said Kharazi. "But it means more efforts, more seriousness, more confidence - building measures for this to be evaluated as a fruitful process. So we have to try harder and be more serious." --More 2338 Local Time 2038 GMT
