Denmark official welcomes Iranian promise of new proposals for nuclear talks

Foreign Minister of Denmark Per Stig Moeller welcomed a promise by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to offer new proposals for negotiations with Europe over Iran's right to enrich uranium.

"I see this as a sign that they don't want that door closed," Moeller said.

Ahmadinejad said Wednesday his country wanted to continue talks in the hope of persuading Europe to recognize Iran's right to enrich uranium. The Iranian president did not specify what the proposals would be.

The European Union "will now look into the new proposal when it comes," Moeller told The Associated Press.

Europe has been trying to persuade Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program in return for economic incentives as a way to lessen suspicions that its nuclear operations are geared to developing nuclear weapons. Iran, which denies seeking atomic arms, rejected the proposal.

"In Europe, we have said it is hopeless when you don't accept our proposal," Moeller said. "We want to help countries that have a true desire to have nuclear energy in a way that they cannot make nuclear weapons."

Iran says its program is entirely peaceful, aiming only to produce electricity. The United States accuses Tehran of secretly pursuing a weapons program.

France's foreign minister said Wednesday that the European Union, represented by France, Germany and Britain, still believes negotiations with Iran are possible.