The UN nuclear watchdog has held up a new report on inspections in Iran while Tehran and the EU's "big three" try to break a deadlock in talks aimed at freezing Iran's uranium enrichment programme, diplomats said on Friday. France, Britain and Germany had urged Iran to announce the suspension by Thursday for it to be included in the new report. However, no announcement was made and it was unclear if Iran was ready to halt its enrichment programme, which could be used to make fissile uranium for atomic weapons.
Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, still one of Iran's most influential officials, told worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran the negotiations were moving ahead "step by step" though the Iranians were not yet satisfied.
"If the Europeans are fair, I think the door is open for a solution and we can reach an agreement," he said.
France said it had received a response from the Iranian authorities on Thursday night following two days of talks in Paris last week aimed at reaching an agreement.